ACTION ALERT:
GOVERNOR PROPOSES CLOSURE OF
80% OF CALIFORNIA'S STATE PARKS

ACTION NEEDED IMMEDIATELY
www.calparks.org/stopclosures

Investing billions of dollars to acquire, restore and protect the natural lands of California was commitment by the State to ensure the resource and recreational values of those parks remained in perpetuity. However, Governor Schwarzenegger announced this week his plan to eliminate General Fund support for California's State Parks. His proposal would cut $143 million from our state parks and it will have devastating effects for all of us and the economy.

BACKGROUND
Beginning July 1st, the Governor will cut state parks core funding in half and then eliminate all core funding in 12 months. Without this money, there will be no choice but to close the majority of our park system.  In other words, the Governor will close 80% (220 State Parks) across California.

Cutting the entire General Fund allocation for State Parks will be devastating and will have the effect of closing virtually the entire State Park system.  This will shut the doors to millions of Californians who rely on State Parks for outdoor recreation and vacations, weaken much-needed tourism revenue for local businesses, cities and the state, and lay-off thousands of dedicated State Park employees during an economic downturn.  

This is exactly the wrong time to be proposing to eliminate the state's core commitment to this world-class resource. Not only would removing the state's General Fund support for State Parks close the park system, it would cause an additional economic ripple effect to the state's budget and to local economies. The state would lose the ability to generate revenue from popular parks, which drives local economies. For every $1 that funds the State Park system, $2.35 is returned to the state's General Fund, largely through economic activities in communities surrounding State Parks.

Once again, the proposal to target State Parks is one that inflicts maximum pain for such minimal financial gain. This is the worst threat to our State Park system since it began 150 years ago.

To stay informed go to the Save Our State Parks website and sign up for email alerts on the issue.

TAKING ACTION

It is imperative that you take action immediately or at the latest Monday before 5 PM. The Budget hearing on this issue is Tuesday, June 2nd and the Governor and Legislature need to hear from you before then!

Step 1 - Send the Governor a message today that you oppose his proposal!

Step 2 - Call your legislators (in the Senate and Assembly) to oppose this proposal.

Step 3 - Call members of the Conference Committee by Tuesday morning.

Senator Denise Ducheny (916) 651-4040
Senator Bob Dutton (916) 651-4031
Senator Mark Leno (916) 651-4003
Senator Alan Lowenthal (916) 651-4027
Senator Mimi Walters (916) 651-4033
Assemblymember Noreen Evans (916) 319-2007
Assemblymember Kevin de León (916) 319-2045
Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (916) 319-2040
Assemblymember Roger Niello (916) 319-2005
Assemblymember Jim Nielsen (916) 319-2002

Step 4 - Attend the June 2nd Legislature's Budget Conference Committee meeting on this proposal.

TALKING POINTS

- The General Fund budget that state parks receive account for less than 1/10 of one percent of the entire state budget.

- Last year alone, there were over 80 million visitors to state parks - and all indications are that this year was going to be even higher.

- Local businesses, cities and the state rely on the revenue of park-related sales. For every For every dollar that funds the parks, $2.35 is returned to the state's General Fund through economic activities in the communities surrounding the parks. That means eliminating all funding for state parks could actually result in the state losing over $350 million dollars in revenue.