Posted on 10/08/2004 8:41:59 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
The Schwarzenegger administration has quietly shut down virtually all expansion of California's state parks -- even land paid for with private donations, the Mercury News has learned.
Saying the state cannot afford new rangers, fences, signs and maintenance, Schwarzenegger officials in the state Department of Finance are refusing to buy almost any new land or accept new scenic beaches, forests and historic sites into public ownership.
The policy was put into place by the state Public Works Board, an obscure panel appointed by the governor that approves funding for state buildings, college classrooms, prisons, parks and other facilities.
In March, Deputy Finance Director Mike Genest, who was chairing the meeting that month, said additions of state parkland requiring any new operating costs would be rejected by the board.
The policy shift has stunned the state Parks Department and environmental groups, who note that California voters in the past four years have approved $10.1 billion in new parks and water bonds to preserve scenic land and wildlife. They say no California governor, even during the Great Depression, has shut off additions to the state's nationally renowned parks system.
Schwarzenegger officials say the slowdown is needed because of the state's ongoing budget problems.
--snip--
Environmentalists and land trust leaders say that the board continues to buy land and buildings for other uses, such as college campuses and courthouses, and that with the state's population growing by roughly 600,000 people a year, wild places not saved now will be paved later.
``This is very significant. It is contrary to the wishes of the voters,'' said Fred Keeley, a former Santa Cruz assemblyman who helped write several recent parks bond measures. ``They haven't stopped acquiring lands for new prisons or DMV offices. Somehow they have singled out state parks for special punishment.''
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Good for the people and economy of CA.
The guy Arnold is turning out to be OK!
Smart move.
Since when has anyone in Santa Cruz supported the will of the voters??? Or the 9th circuit?? Toooooooooooooooooooo freekin bad Keeley... this was a good move for California, no wonder he's wetting his pants.
You are gonna get flamed/
Won't be the first time LOL
Arnold is a very mixed bag.
...can just head on over to Home Depot, buy some 4"x4"'s and lag bolts, stick the 4"x's in the backseat of their BMW convertibles and go build the park benches that are so desperately needed. Wear gloves and eye protection.
But on some key issues, the mix has been very good.
State Parks are a low priority item here in CA. We really need to spend $20 million registering and tracking .50 calibre weapons, and allocating scarce police resources to punishing people who illegally traffic in foie gras.
Keely is the BIGGEST leftist idiot little weiner EVER!
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