State budget deal would hobble East Bay Parks

The East Bay Regional Park District would lose 25% of its funds if Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed state-budget compromise passes in its current form. These sales-tax revenues would be transferred to the state general fund.

This cut would be devastating to the Park District. In addition to the costs of ongoing operations, the District has a backlog of funding needs: fixing roofs on toilets, repairs to buildings, habitat restoration, wildlife enhancements.

The District actually manages some state-park facilities, including Del Valle Regional Park and Crown Beach in the city of Alameda. Without the Park District's services, the state would have to pay for operating these sites or close them. It makes no sense for the state to cut the budget of the agency which manages the state's own facilities.

What You Can Do

Write to the governor and your state senator and assemblymember at:

State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814.

Tell them not to balance the state budget on the back of our East Bay Regional Park District.

To get more involved on Park District issues, join the Bay Chapter's East Bay Public Lands Committee. Contact its chair, Norman La Force at (510) 526-4362 or: for the date and time of the next meeting.

Norman La Force