State Parks Closure Update

06/28/09

Dear Friends,

Last weekend we asked for your help and you responded--thank you to everyone who gatheredsignatures at Seacliff, New Brighton, Wilder Ranch, Henry Cowell, Nisene Marks, downtown Santa Cruz, Capitola Village, Aptos Village and beyond. Dozens of you fanned out and collected the signatures of 1,633 supporters from 168 California communities, plus 20 states and 6 countries. Those signatures became emails and postcards sent to the governor and more than half of all the legislators who are responsible for our state budget. The message was loud and clear: keep our parks open and funded!

Unfortunately, decision makers in Sacramento have not yet voted to keep the parks open, much less funded. In fact, Governor Schwarzenegger's $70 million cut to State Parks was voted on this week by the entire legislature, and more than half of the members voted in favor of the governor's cuts. Because the vote requires 2/3 of the members to vote yes, the measure failed-but it will be back again for another vote within the next few days. If the measure gets a 2/3 approval, it will pass, there will no longer be funding for our parks, and the closure plan will move forward. We cannot let that happen!

For those who thought the parks closure plan was a bluff by the governor, this week's votes make it clear that this is no bluff. Our parks and beaches are truly in danger of being closed and abandoned.

There is a solution, called the State Parks Access Pass. It was voted on in the State Senate Friday, and failed by just 4 votes. Thanks goes to our Senator Joe Simitian for voting YES. Unfortunately, our other local Senator Abel Maldonado chose not to vote at all, though he has stated publicly his support for keeping parks open. There will be more opportunities for our legislators to vote on the Parks Access Pass, so we need to let them know this plan must be approved.

Our state parks and beaches very much need your help. Please contact Senator Maldonado (who represents approximately half of Santa Cruz County, as well as the entire coastline south of Santa Cruz County to northern Santa Barbara County) and urge him to support the Parks Access Pass:

Phone: 916-651-4015 (Capitol office) or 831-657-6315 (District office)
Email: senator.maldonado@senate.ca.gov
Fax: 916-445-8081 (Capitol office) or 831-657-6320 (District office)
Snail-mail:
The Honorable Abel Maldonado
State Capitol
Room 4082
Sacramento, CA 95814

What else can you do?
-Donate Today at ThatsMyPark.org . Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks needs your financial support now more than ever. If you are a member, please consider giving $25 or $50. If you are not a member, please join Friends today. Every donation is tax-deductable and helps our work to save our precious parks and beaches.
-Help us reach the 2,000 mark on our Facebook page - we're nearly there!
-Tell your friends, family and colleagues about what we're doing and ask them to join with us. Learn more on our website.

Thank you for all your support in this historic effort!

Bonny Hawley
Executive Director
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks