State Parks to Stay Open

China Cove, Pt. Lobos

It’s been obvious from the start that closing parks would cost the state more money than it would save. As this fact became increasingly difficult to ignore during the past few weeks, and as the announcement of the closure list was repeatedly delayed, it became more and more obvious that the Governor’s Office was going to back away from the park closure plans. And today, sure enough, the Governor has announced that all state parks will stay open. The new plan is to save money mainly by reducing the amount of time that parks are open and by reducing maintenance.

We’re glad they won’t be trying to kick us off the beach, but with the difficulty State Parks is already having keeping their property adequately maintained this doesn’t seem like much of a victory.

Intuit vs. Domestic Violence Victims

Another example of how corporate influence is destroying California’s ability to govern itself:

Pretty much everyone agrees we need shelters for victims of domestic violence. So it was not at all surprising that a bill designed to keep dozens of those shelters open passed the California Assembly on a unanimous 76-0 vote last week.

Duvall’s Downfall Sheds Light on Culture of Corruption

Mike Duvall   R-Yorba Linda

Republican “family values” politicians get caught with their pants down so often these days it’s hard to call it news anymore. It’s also not exactly a shocking revelation that large business interests will provide politicians with sex, as well as money, if that’s what it takes to get their votes.

Feds Threaten Seizure of Ft. Ord Dunes and Pt. Sur

Federal, state and local functionaries were all smiles at the Grand Opening of Ft. Ord Dunes State Park a couple of months ago, but the feds are now threatening to take the land back if the state doesn’t keep the park open.

As the “starve the beast” wing of the Republican Party continues its strangulation of state government, and the pointless closure of most of California’s State Parks moves closer to reality, the federal government has begun pointing out that some California parks sit on land donated to the state by the feds on condition that the state open the land to the public as parks. If the state goes back on the deal by closing the parks, say the feds, they may just take the land back.

Two local State Parks in this category are Pt. Sur and the newly opened Ft. Ord Dunes State Park. We don’t know whether the state will go through with closing the parks, or how long it will take the feds to act, if they do, but it could get interesting.

Which federal agency would manage these lands? Would the feds return the parks to the state again when, and if, sanity returns in Sacramento? How would federal management affect public access?

According to the San Jose Mercury, the parks “would likely be transferred as surplus property to the federal government and be offered to federal agencies, universities, even private developers.”

Stay tuned …

Wave of Terrorism Unleashed by Governor’s Proposal to Close Parks

Well, terrorism as defined by the U.S. Department of Defense, anyway.

A Pt. Lobos terrorist signaling the Mother ship?

Closing the Parks: The California Budget Farce Continues

Pt. Lobos: Will the public soon be fenced out?

We’ve been avoiding commenting on the Governor’s threat to close most of the State Parks (including Pt. Lobos and all the State Parks along the Big Sur coast). Frankly, it’s tiresome to point out what everyone already knows – and we don’t blame you if you stop reading here …

The Moronic Convergence – How Stupid Laws and Selfish People are Pushing California Off a Cliff

Abel “What’s in it for me?” Maldonado 

State Budget Mess Halting Post-Fire Erosion Control Projects?

Jeff Denham, Still Unable to Face the Facts