The Terminator Should Cut Elsewhere!

A response to Governor Schwarzenegger's state parks proposals is first, then the Associated Press story that inspired it follows.

The news of Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent proposals in California to build a toll road through a state park and to close 48 state parks due to "budgetary" considerations is very disappointing despite the fact that I live in Illinois! His firing of his brother-in-law Bobby Shriver and Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood from the State Parks Commission will garner the story national attention, which it deserves. California is not the only place where state parks are in danger of being closed or violated by the encroachment of development. In the past, I've been very impressed with Governor Schwarzenegger's record in California with regards to protecting public lands. He was proof that you don't have to be a "Liberal" to care about the environment or our sacred public lands that are constantly threatened by developer interests and intentions. His "budget" proposal to close 48 state parks is so disturbing that if Californians allow this to happen they will be forfeiting not only an essential natural legacy but they will be robbing current and future generations of the opportunity to "get away from it all" by "talking a walk in the park", an activity that in this day and age of out of control development must never be taken for granted.

Why is it that politicians always seem to want to "cut the budget" in those areas involving "Nature", whose benefits cannot be quantified monetarily but whose benefits to human well being and quality of life are immeasurable.

I hope that Shriver and Eastwood continue their fight to protect California's public lands regardless of what the Terminator does. And if the 'budget' is truly at issue, I'm sure that there is enough waste in California's "social programs" that are being taken advantage of by scammers and deadbeats to make the necessary cuts there.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Here are two guys who didn't see it coming when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger terminated them: his own brother-in-law, Bobby Shriver, and actor-director Clint Eastwood.

The governor dropped Shriver and Eastwood from a state parks commission where both had served since before he took office. The two oppose a Schwarzenegger-backed plan to build a toll road through a state park, but Shriver said Thursday that the governor's decision was a surprise to both of them.

"I had hoped to continue to do this work and continue to protect the park system from developers," Shriver said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "It shows you how strong these developers were that were able to arm-wrestle the governor into firing us."

Shriver, a Santa Monica city councilman who is the brother of the governor's wife, Maria Shriver, and a nephew of President Kennedy, said he and Eastwood, a former mayor of Carmel, had asked the governor for third terms on the State Park and Recreation Commission. He said they were informed Monday evening by a Schwarzenegger aide that they would be replaced.

Eastwood, who won best-director Oscars for 2004's "Million Dollar Baby" and 1992's "Unforgiven," did not immediately return a telephone call Thursday from The Associated Press.

A spokesman for the Republican governor praised both men but said their terms had expired. He said their positions on the toll road did not factor into the governor's decision.

"It's not uncommon for people to serve their terms, and when they expire the governor appoints someone new," spokesman Aaron McLear said. "The governor believes both Mr. Shriver and Mr. Eastwood did an outstanding job and appreciated their service."

Shriver, the commission chairman, and Eastwood, the vice chairman, led the panel in its unanimous opposition in 2005 to a six-lane toll road that would cut through San Onofre State Beach, one of Southern California's most cherished surfing beaches.

Shriver and Eastwood supported a 2006 lawsuit to block the toll road and urged the California Coastal Commission to reject the project, which it did last month. That decision is being appealed by local transportation agencies.

"We felt we were doing good work," Shriver said. "Using parks for roads is not the intent of a park."

Schwarzenegger, who has visited the area, said in a Jan. 15 letter to the coastal commission that the toll road was "essential to protect our environment" by helping to relieve freeway gridlock in Orange and San Diego counties.

Schwarzenegger's decision was upsetting to park advocates who already are lobbying against the governor's budget proposal to close 48 state parks and slash in half the number of lifeguards at its beaches in San Diego, Orange and Santa Cruz counties.

Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the California State Parks Foundation, said Shriver and Eastwood were their champions on the park board.

"We're seeing the governor taking actions that undermine the California system," Goldstein said. "This is a park system that is under assault."

The nine-member commission is charged with approving plans for California's parks and recommending ways to protect and develop the system. Commissioners do not earn a salary.

Eastwood and Shriver were appointed to the commission in 2001 by former Gov. Gray Davis. Schwarzenegger reappointed them in 2004

I’m shocked that RINO Arnold would want to cut the budget at all!

I don’t know why everybody seems to be shocked. You knew long before that those things will happen. Electing a person from Austria into a gouvernment leadership position ALWAYS ends in a desaster. Look what happend to Germany between 1933 and 1945 with a austrian leader.

I would say that the writer has a misplaced set of priorities if she thinks that cutting access to parks is more important that some of the social services cuts proposed for the vulnerable elderly, the disabled and poor children.

I could not agree more. They should leave the parks alone and cut all benefits for “undocumented citizens!”

5 posted on 03/21/2008 9:24:53 AM PDT by HenpeckedCon (Deport them all... Let God sort them out!)

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