California State Parks Budget Crisis Threatens Mountain Bike Access/Park Closures

[rushak]

WEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee................signag e.

[Red Hot Sloth]

Signed!

[bighit8]

Done deal Mr. and Mrs Schmeal.

[ddmansprty]

Signed.

Also put the link of my friend's websites message board.

And I thought Arnold was all about fitness!

[dump truck]

signed.

just started riding again, the rain is already interfering with my riding, i dont need closed parks too.

[Johnny Dirt]

Signed!

[Liquid55]

Signed, Thanks for the info

[chadster]

Signed! Thanks for the call to action.

[denmother]

Here's the response I got from Arnold after signing the petition:

----- Original Message ----
From: "governor@govmail.ca.gov" <governor@govmail.ca.gov>
To: nancy_h1@pacbell.net
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 5:02:30 PM
Subject: Re:Please Don't Let Budget Cuts Close 48 State Parks

Thank you for writing Governor Schwarzenegger and sharing your thoughts on the budget crisis' impact on the California State Park system. The Governor appreciates your input during this difficult budget year.

A weakened national economy and auto-pilot state spending has created a projected budget shortfall of $14.5 billion for fiscal year 2008-09. Although state government revenues this coming year are actually forecast to hold steady, the problem is that every year automatic spending formulas increase expenditures. Left unchecked, next year's budget would need to grow by 7.3-percent, which is $7.6 billion; even booming economies can't meet that kind of increase. To immediately combat this crisis, the Governor has proposed a 10-percent reduction in nearly every General Fund program from their projected 2008-09 funding levels. While these reductions are unquestionably painful and challenging, this across-the-board approach is designed to protect essential services by spreading reductions as evenly as possible.

To achieve this difficult reduction, State Parks will be reducing both its permanent and seasonal workforce. As a result, 48 park units will be closed or partially closed to the public and placed in caretaker status. By closing parks and eliminating positions, remaining resources can be consolidated and shifted to other parks to provide for services necessary to keep those parks open and operating. While 48 parks are affected by closures, 230 parks-or 83% of the system-will remain open.

We must reform our state budget process. Government cannot continue to put people through the binge and purge of our budget process that has now led to park closures. That's why the Governor has proposed a Budget Stabilization Act. Under the Governor's plan, when revenues grow, Sacramento would not be able to spend all the money. Instead, we would set a portion aside in a Revenue Stabilization Fund to stabilize the budget in down years. If a deficit develops during the year, instead of waiting to accumulate billions of dollars of debt, the Governor's plan would automatically trigger lower funding levels already agreed upon by the Legislature. Had this system been in place the past decade, we would not be facing a $14.5 billion deficit.

As Governor Schwarzenegger works with his partners in the Legislature, he will keep your concerns in mind. With your help, we will turn today's temporary problem into a permanent victory for the people of California.

Sincerely,



Jared Bocka
Office of Constituent Affairs

[jschwart73]

Ditto here, got the same thing yesterday.

[Evil Chocula]

Originally Posted by northshore

Can you say move out of CA?

[evil laughter erupts 3000 miles away]

[Wrecker]

Got that, an email from my senator and assemblyman, and a written (typed) letter from the assemblyman. Auto response and interns are a beautiful thing, eh?

[denmother]

Here's the response I got today:

The Sacramento insiders probably think we should be happy with their half-a-loaf response to our campaign to stop the governor from closing 48 state parks. But we're not. Tell me what you think:
First, after receiving over 31,000 e-mails from you and other Environment California supporters, the governor seemed to soften on his plan to close state parks -- and politicians were scrambling to come up with other options. That's the good news, and you should be damn proud for helping to turn it around this far.

The bad news? The governor's proposal is still on the table. The latest plan we're hearing in Sacramento would keep the parks open by steeply raising park fees -- a tactic that has been proven to keep most people out of state parks.

We can do better. We must do better. But it's not going to be easy. We want to wage a major campaign to find and propose a permanent funding solution for our parks and persuade the governor and the Legislature to adopt it. I looked at the numbers and think it will take about $12,000 to pull it off.

Can you chip in with $25 or more? Click here:
https://www.environmentcalifornia.org/action/preservation/donate?id4=ES

I've been blown away by how passionate you are about standing up for our environmental treasures across the state. We created a real buzz around this issue.

We've come too far to stop now. Keeping these 48 state parks open would be a great victory, but ensuring permanent funding for generations to come -- now that would make me happy. How about you?

Please click here to chip in whatever you can afford:
https://www.environmentcalifornia.org/action/preservation/donate?id4=ES

Sincerely,

Dan Jacobson
Environment California Legislative Director
DanJ@environmentcalifornia.org
http://www.environmentcalifornia.org

P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends.