Gov. Schwarzenegger has proposed closing a number of open spaces in the Santa Monica Mountains including Will Rogers and Topanga state parks due to a $10 billion budget deficit. What impact do you think this could have on local public parks?
Here are your responses: “THE STATE PARK SYSTEM AND SO MANY other quality of life issues are suffering mightily under the growing indigent which is siphoning off billions of dollars that used to take care of these systems. Overpopulation is ruining us.”
“THE IMPACT WILL BE ON THOSE WHO intended to visit the park and will now have to find another destination, such as parks out of the state of California — if they can afford the gasoline. I do not suggest that the billionaires among us absorb the burden of the poor fiscal management of the state of California that did not put a few pennies away for a rainy day. Still, it would be nice if the rich would adopt a park, such as the Will Rogers’ Ranch, and pay for the upkeep and management of the park. It is said for those who can afford to adopt these expenses to receive a tax deduction from the state of California and the federal Internal Revenue Service, including anyone else who would be willing to donate.”
“SANTA MONICA’S PARKS ARE ALREADY taken over by all the bums and the drunks anyway so it probably won’t matter. People will just have to find some place else to have a park.”
“BEFORE WORLD WAR I, THE MILITARY, primarily our Calvary, were caring for the parks. If we get out of this dumb war, we can again give our soldiers a real job: Caring for squirrels and moose. We can also give nonviolent prisoners a choice to work in our parks to reduce time. We can begin a program like Vista for park service. We could employ able-bodied homeless for one-dollar-a-day park jobs for giving them food and shelter. We can make a one-year draft or public service jobs in parks and hospitals.”
“I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IMPACT it would have on the city’s public parks, except cause more overcrowding. But, the real issue is that Gov. Schwarzenegger is acting as a true Republican in closing some of our state parks to make up for $10 billion budget deficit. He should start collecting from the big corporations and all his special interest people. It’s just like the Bush administration. Cut education, social security, health care and line the pockets of their rich friends.”
“WHO KNOWS WHAT IMPACT THE closure would have. However, to close down Topanga State Park would be a crime.”
“THAT’S JUST ANOTHER FORM OF A homeless criminal evasion and gentrifica-tion.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 3, 2008. Read the original PDF.