Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Issues Statement on State Budget Agreement

07/21/09

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Issues Statement on State Budget Agreement

Executive Director: grateful that leaders heard the message not to close parks, though there is nothing to prevent repeating the closure crisis next year

SANTA CRUZ, CA—Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks today released the following statement by Executive Director Bonny Hawley on news of a preliminary state budget agreement among the governor and legislative leaders:

“The state budget agreement is filled with bad news and deeply distressing cuts to education, social services, environmental protections and much more. But there is hopeful, potentially good, news for our state parks—and the conservation efforts and local economies they support. Pending a final legislative vote and the governor’s signature, California will cut $8 million from State Parks, rather than $70 million, and just a few parks might close, rather than 220.

We are grateful the governor and legislators have heard the strong and consistent message from state parks advocates locally and across the state to keep the parks open. From phone calls, faxes and ‘snail mail’, to Facebook, Twitter and Web videos, our supporters responded by the thousands.

Our parks and beaches are supposed to be protected in perpetuity. Yet we’ve learned this year just how fragile that concept is. Despite the fact that a popular and solid solution was on the table via the State Parks Access Pass, the governor and legislative leaders were not able to agree to support it. So, we’re left with the likelihood that some parks will close this year and nothing is in place to prevent repeating the problem again next year.

We look forward to opening a new chapter in the fight to save our state parks—one that includes building a vision beyond the current year, and includes embracing innovative and sustainable ways to fund and operate California’s state park system.”

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks—advocacy by the numbers, June 1-July 21, 2009:

• Petitions signers – 1884 (from 251 communities)
• New local business supporters – 120
• YouTube Web video views – 1151
• Facebook friends - 2040

About Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has worked for more than 30 years to preserve precious state park lands and provide essential funds to support park programs that inspire and build connections between people and nature. For more information about Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, visit www.ThatsMyPark.org. Also available on Facebook and Twitter.