Looks like the temporary reprieve that the state parks got is going to vanish again. State legislators are planning on shutting all state parks and slashing pay for all state employees (does that include the legislators as well?) in order to save money. Never mind that the state treasurer said that the state could lay off every single state employee and still be in the hole, but oh well.
No much of a person to get on a political rant, but I feel that our legislature over the past decade or so has generally done us a terrible disservice, and their current behavior is right in line with that. Why not let the voters decide themselves if they want a sales tax increase? Uh oh, the uninformed masses might do something that goes ideologically against what you like. Guess what? The public should get the final word, not you. So irritated this morning.
"The only thing we did was wrong was staying in the wilderness to long...the only thing we did was right was the day we started to fight..."
-Old Spiritual
My book, The Marauders on Lulu and Amazon
azbackpackr wrote: More like big business combined with brainwashing advertising. And the players are all mentally retarded misogynistic millionaires, who complain constantly. Yuck.
Don't hold back there Elizabeth, you're among friends here, say what's on your mind.
I agree! Mesa builds the "temple" for the godless religion while the parks close. Something ain't right here.
Shawn
The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.
More than 100 rally to support Arizona parks
by Casey Newton - Feb. 1, 2010 01:34 PM
The Arizona Republic
More than 100 people from across the state rallied at the Capitol Mall on Monday in an effort to keep state parks open.
Waving signs that read "Closed parks? Shame on you!," members of the public asked lawmakers to find new funding sources to keep the system's 27 parks and three natural areas open.
Last month, after new budget cuts from the Legislature, the Arizona State Board voted to close 13 more parks by the end of June. Eight others are either already closed, were transferred to outside control or are being kept open through an outside funding source. The parks system budget, which was $26 million in January 2009, is now at $7.5 million, following fund sweeps by lawmakers. Speakers at the rally said further park closures would bring severe economic harm to rural areas that rely on tourism.
"It's both an environmental issue and an economic issue," said Rep. Chad Campbell, DPhoenix, noting that the parks bring an estimated $260 million in revenues to state and local governments. "What we're doing to our state parks is unconscionable to me."
Other speakers advocated for a bill that would create a dedicated funding stream for state parks in the form of a fee paid when registering a vehicle. In exchange for paying the fee, Arizona motorists could enter any state park without additional cost.
I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
Well, when they know that the counties and towns will step in, why would they change their minds? Apache County and local municipalities are looking at ways to keep Lyman Lake open.
There is a point of no return unremarked at the time in most lives. Graham Greene The Comedians
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.
"Parks-board members are lobbying for House Concurrent Resolution 2040, which would ask voters to pass a $9 surcharge on vehicle registrations to fund state parks. Vehicles registered in Arizona would then be able to enter all state parks at no additional cost.
The resolution, which has drawn bipartisan support, is scheduled for a hearing Monday in the House Natural Resources and Rural Affairs Committee."
This works for me, sign me up!
Shawn
The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.
"The only thing we did was wrong was staying in the wilderness to long...the only thing we did was right was the day we started to fight..."
-Old Spiritual
My book, The Marauders on Lulu and Amazon
Go ahead and pay pay pay, not me brother. How many years will that last before they rob the account and jack it up to fifty. I hope the whole thing collapses and they learn to "manage".
Well, you have a point there. Get more money out of us, tell us it is for the parks, then later on down the road tell us it isn't enough to support the parks, or rob the fund for some other purpose.
There is a point of no return unremarked at the time in most lives. Graham Greene The Comedians
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.
The state park system needs a separate trust and operating budget, plan and simple. I would like to give money to that trust knowing that it will pay a ranger's salary and not go to ACCCHS payments for some over-the-hill emphysema patient who smoked all his or her life to get treatment.
In response to Jeff MacE:
even if it were, the legislature would simply roll it into the general fund.. like everything else.. and spend it how they want anyway.
Just as a reminder, the first round of closures goes into effect on Monday. This weekend's your last chance to get to those first-to-be-closed parks for a long time. You can always join up for the Homolovi trip on Saturday...
"The only thing we did was wrong was staying in the wilderness to long...the only thing we did was right was the day we started to fight..."
-Old Spiritual
My book, The Marauders on Lulu and Amazon
In response to Jeff MacE:
yep, unfortunately it'd require a constitutional change in this state.. which is a huge amount of will. Since we can't even separate educational funding from general funding, I highly doubt recreation will ever get such treatment. For the record though, I'm all for it... get it on a ballot measure and I'll vote for it, same with a real (not digital, because they're worthless generally) petition. I might even work for it, given some real backing.
All in all, I'm awful close to simply voting for anyone whose name doesn't have Incumbent next to it for a while.
Growing Smart fund gowing to the parks
(2010-02-19)
PHOENIX, AZ (Capitol Media Services) - In 1998 voters approved the Growing Smarter program providing $20
million a year for 11 years to set aside open space. There's
currently about $104 million in that account. The measure would
borrow $40 million of that over the next two years, with most of
that going to parks. But Rep. Kyrsten Sinema said the funds,
having been earmarked by voters, are off limits.
(The Arizona Legislature does not have the right, the ability or
the constitutional authority to take these dollars out of Growing
Smarter funds and put them to any other purposes. And by doing
so, even if we are saying it shall be a loan and we shall repay
it, still violates the state constitution.)
But Rep. Warde Nichols said there is an exception. Lawmakers can
make changes when they further the purpose of the original
measure.
(Even being voter protected, I believe that it is expanding the
purpose of the Growing Smarter by keeping our state parks open,
keeping open space open.)
Looks like Homolovi will indeed be closed on Monday - no last minute respite!
"The only thing we did was wrong was staying in the wilderness to long...the only thing we did was right was the day we started to fight..."
-Old Spiritual
My book, The Marauders on Lulu and Amazon
Just saw this on a Meetup group post ... can't fully attest to its reliability
There has been much confusion in the media as to the number of parks being closed, 21 parks will be closed or remain closed starting Monday February 22nd (this Monday). The remaining 9 parks will remain open as long as they meet the projected revenues, if they dont, then they will be closed. *All the historic parks are being closed which will close off learning about the past of Arizona to visitors and our children. Arizona was crucial to the development of the West and is the birthplace of many, many significant points in history (i.e. the surrender of Geronimo) and is what draws many people to visit, and bring their money, to our state. Dates and parks are listed below.
Please be aware these parks are not all State property and you do not have the right to trespass on the closed parks. While they currently have no plan or money to close the Parks, they are coming close to a plan which (imagine a long sigh from Lisa) will cost almost as much per Park as it costs to keep some of the Parks open--go figure. Tresspass damage and vandalism will only delay the re-opening of Parks should the economy recover before the land reverts ownership (see below for an explanation) as it will cost more money to bring the Park(s) back to full function and public use. I am imagining, although there has been no hints, that you will see something similar to that of the highway rest stops; large concrete barriers barring vehicle traffic and barricaded buildings (offices, classrooms, and bathrooms) at the Parks. Water will shut off. There will be no maintenance (again my perogative on how they have to manage the closed parks on a $0 budget) for brush/fire control or trash. If parks are blockaded/barricaded please respect those closures in the hopes of making it easier to reclaim our Parks.
Some municipalities are in the pursuit of acquiring the Parks (i.e. AJ for Dutchman) but with the downturn in the economy they are strapped for cash already without a capital gain and incorporation of maintenance/staff costs. These same municipalities (AJ, Payson, Tubac, etc) are bracing to lose significant amounts of money from tourism brought in by their Parks which are being closed. Please help support these communities by eating at their restaurants and buying goods at their businesses when you are in the area when you can. The domino effect is only getting rolling.
Please don't stop voicing your disapproval (if that is how you feel) to your government, don't make it easy for them. All meetings are open to the public and the schedule of meetings and locations are on the State Parks page. Please support your Parks staff and rangers, by the end of this quarter they will be reduced to number of about 60-70 individuals to patrol, maintain, plan, and manage all Parks, trails and lands in the state of Arizona where they were over 300 individuals a year ago--they are working very hard to make sure you space stays accessible.
If you have any questions or comments don't hesitate to contact me or post on the message board set aside for Park closures. Please visit the State Parks page for further information. Please consider volunteerism (several links are on the State Parks page for a variety of topics), we will have to keep the trails alive--please use your trails and take care of them so that those who come behind us can enjoy them too.
Parks that will lose funding (through the Heritage Fund) or will remain closed:
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Jerome State Historic Park
McFarland State Historic Park
Oracle
San Rafael Natural Area
Sonoita Creek Natural Area
Verede River Greenway
Yuma Quartermaster Depot
Parks closing Monday February 22nd at 5pm MST:
Fort Verde State Historic Park
Homolovi Ruins
Lyman Lake
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Parks closing Monday March 29th at 5 pm MST:
Roper Lake
Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
Tubac Prsidio State Historic Park
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park
Parks closing Thursday June 3rd at 5 pm MST:
Alamo Lake
Lost Dutchan
Picacho Peak
Red Rock
Tonto Natural Bridge (home to the largest natural tavertine bridge in the world)
Parks remaining open pending meeting revenue draw:
Buckskin Mountain
Catalina
Cattail Cove
ead Horse Ranch
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation
Kartchner Caverns
Lake Havasu
Patagonio Lake
Slide Rock
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." — Henry David Thoreau
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