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List of Park Closures Won't be Released this Week, Says Schwarzenegger Spokesperson
Leo Carillo State Beach is one of the many threatened state parks | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist
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Leo Carillo State Beach is one of the many threatened state parks | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist
A spokesman for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said today that the list of parks slated for closure will not be released this week as officials continue to work to save more money, therefore keeping more open, according to John Myers of KQED.
"It is a really terrible situation to be in," Schwarzenegger answering a reporter's question at a renewable energy press conference this afternoon. Facing a $23 billion shortfall in the state's budget, Schwarzenegger proposed closing 80% of state parks, a fraction of savings in the big picture, last Spring. The legislature paired down the cut in their budget proposal, but Schwarzengger used his veto power to increase that cut, equaling about $39 million, translating to the possible closure of around 100 state parks.
"I never wanted to make cuts to the parks... but you can't go promise people money you don't have," Schwarzenegger continued. "Now we have to be creative," he said referencing a plan to crate partnerships to save parks.
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Yesterday, state park officials said the list was likely be released by the end of the week, but today they concur with Schwarzenegger's office. "It's more likely next week," said Sheryl Watson, a public information officer, over the phone. "But again, I have no specific date."
It's even possible the list will be published later than next week, said Roy Stearns, Deputy Director of Communications for state parks in an e-mail. "My expectation of after Labor Day was too optimistic for such a huge task of analyzing 279 parks from Oregon to Mexico," he wrote. "We wish to get it right."
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