HELP SAVE OUR STATE PARKS!

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Citizens for East Shore Parks endorses 2010 PARKS INITIATIVE

Help Pass the proposition to save California State Parks

Hurray! The State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010, an initiative to restore funding to state parks, has qualified for the November ballot. Thanks to Citizens for East Shore Parks volunteers, who contributed their time and energy to help gather signatures, about 763,000 signatures were submitted, exceeding the minimum of 433,931 required by California State law. Election officials verified all those signatures and on June 10th approved the initiative for the statewide ballot.

We may have overcome this hurdle, but we have a long battle ahead of us. California residents will now get a chance to vote on the measure in the upcoming election. We will need your help to ensure that the public approves the initiative. Please help us spread the word to Save Our State Parks!

If approved by a simple majority of voters, the measure would raise roughly $500 million a year, a significant increase from the current annual budget of $380 million. The ballot proposal would give 85 percent of fee revenue to CA State Parks.

State Parks Petition To Secure Funding for CA State Parks Passes the First Hurdle

Hurry! The State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010, an initiative to restore funding to state parks, may soon qualify for the November ballot. Thanks to Citizens for East Shore Parks volunteers, who contributed their time and energy to help gather signatures, about 763,000 signatures were submitted, exceeding the minimum of 433,931 required by California State law. The next step is for the elections officials to verify the signatures by June 24.

We've overcome the first hurdle, but we still have a battle ahead of us. Once the initiative is approved for the ballot, California residents will get a chance to vote on the measure in the upcoming election. We need your help to ensure that the public approves the initiative. Please help us spread the word to Save Our State Parks!

If approved by a simple majority of voters, the measure would raise roughly $500 million a year, a significant increase from the current annual budget of $380 million. The ballot proposal would give 85 percent of fee revenue to CA State.

Why We Need this:

How did California's 278 state parks, once the best in the country, sink to being among the shabbiest? Call it death by a thousand budget cuts. Our parks are falling apart because of persistent underfunding. The state still owns the lands-the spectacular vistas, historic sites, and beaches-but roofs and sewage systems leak, restrooms aren't washed out regularly but trails are, and campgrounds and visitor centers are shuttered. The repair backlog in California state parks tops $1 billion, and it's growing.

As if that weren't enough, twice in the past two years, the whole state-park system was on the verge of being shut down. Only last-minute budget reprieves kept it open. But nearly 60 state parks are to have reduced hours or calendars because of this year's budget cuts, and more reductions are expected next year. Major cutbacks in the Bay Area will include campground, picnic, and parking-lot closures on Mount Tamalpais, Angel Island, Mount Diablo, Samuel P. Taylor, Tomales Bay, and China Camp state parks. Facilities at Olompali State Historic Park, Candlestick Point State Recreation Area, and the Benicia Capital State Historic Park will be closed.

That's why park supporters are placing a statewide initiative on the November 2010 ballot called the California State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010. It will protect state parks and conserve wildlife by establishing a trust fund in the state treasury to be spent only on state parks, wildlife and marine conservation, and state conservancies.

Funding will come from an $18 surcharge on the registration fee for California vehicles, including motorcycles and recreational vehicles but not larger commercial vehicles, mobile homes, and permanent trailers. Surcharged vehicles will receive free admission to all state parks. In comparison, park visitors currently pay up to $125 for an annual pass or $10 - 15 per day at most parks. There will still be charges for camping and other special services.

The trust fund will be sufficient to adequately fund state parks, freeing them from annual budget cuts and threatened closures. Spending from the trust fund will be subject to oversight by a citizen's board, full public disclosure, and independent annual audits. Money from the general fund currently spent on parks will be available for other vital needs, including schools, health care, social services, and public safety.

Citizens for East Shore Parks endorses 2010 PARKS INITIATIVE

Parks Access Fee to Grant Californians Free, Year-Round Admission to All State Parks. We're more than half-way there and welcome your help to reach our goal, Help gather signatures now! To learn more about how to gather signatures, contact: 510.524.5000 or pjones@eastshorepark.org

Ballot Initiative to Fund State Parks Draws Big Interest

SANTA CRUZ -- A massive volunteer-led signature drive is finding its way to street corners, grocery stores and weekend festivities along the Central Coast.
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Citizens for East Shore Parks endorsed the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010, a proposed statewide initiative slated for the November 2010 ballot, that would provide a stable, reliable and adequate source of funding to protect state parks and conserve wildlife.

Patricia Jones, CESP Executive Director and volunteers at State Parks Advocacy Day in State Capitol steps, March 8, 2010

"With our state parks facing an insurmountable funding crisis and irreparable damage, it is essential we provide our parks with a sustainable and reliable funding stream," said Jim Metropulos, Senior Advocate of Sierra Club California. "For years California's 278 state parks have been an integral public asset that residents and visitors alike enjoyed, and it is imperative we maintain these priceless assets for our children and future generations."

The State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010 would ensure a dedicated and reliable funding stream for state parks through an $18 annual State Park Access Pass surcharge and, in return, would provide vehicles subject to the surcharge free, year-round admission to state parks.

CESP will coordinate with the Sierra Club and the State Parks Foundation to gather signatures for this important effort to save our State Parks. We encourage our supporters to join us to keep our parks open by helping to ensure that this initiative ultimately succeeds.

If you would like to volunteer, please sign up by clicking here and by contacting us by e-mail or phone: (510) 524-5000