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  California's state parks should be our legacy
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ContributorHikikomori Blitzkrieg! 
Last EditedHikikomori Blitzkrieg!  Aug 19, 2010 03:07am
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CategoryEditorial
AuthorSan Jose Mercury News Editorial Board
MediaNewspaper - San Jose Mercury News
News DateSunday, August 15, 2010 11:20:00 AM UTC0:0
DescriptionIn its annual list of America's 11 most endangered places, the National Trust for Historic Preservation's No. 1 pick this year was state parks nationwide. On its Web page, the Trust highlights Pigeon Point lighthouse on the San Mateo coast: It's been closed for years and is, the photo caption says, in "critical condition."

While state parks everywhere are hit hard by shrinking revenue, California was one of the states the National Trust picked as a prime example of crisis. And so it is. Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget came close to closing 100 of the state's 279 parks. Instead, some 150 were closed part of the time or deeply reduced their services. Cuts will go deeper this year.

But for this one crisis at least, California has a solution. A brilliant solution, in fact: Proposition 21 on the November ballot.

With an $18 annual surcharge on the vehicle license fee -- about $1.50 per month -- Proposition 21 would create a trust fund to be used exclusively to repair, maintain and operate state parks and to conserve wildlife and ocean habitats. It would fix what's dilapidated, hire adequate staff, improve public facilities and protect wild lands at Henry Coe, Big Basin and other beloved destinations.

In return for the $18, Californians will get unlimited day-use admission to state parks and beaches, which now costs about $125 for an annual pass or $10 or more per day. (Out-of-state tourists would still pay at
the gate.) They will help preserve the jobs created by the $4 billion a year in spending by park visitors. And they get the satisfaction of preserving the parks for all time.
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