Out on a Limb:  It's Time

by Mary Golden

Please view the Parks_Endorsement_Resolution.

Many of you have been in the trenches, for years it seems.  Battle after battle to keep our State Parks Open.  If you look at the ones who came before, they battled to keep spaces protected, to see that they were turned into parks.  It's our watch.  And now,  it's our time.  You will read in our Nature Notes facts related to Proposition 21 which is the California State Park and Wildlife Conservation Act of 2010.  This is our chance to wrest control of State Parks out of political hands.  It's a chance for us, the citizens of California to protect our State Parks, our wildlife, our cultural resources from development and decay—and keep them open and protected for future generations.

I know you are tired of the endless:  Are State Parks open?  Closed? Funded?  Are fees going up?  Are bathrooms and museums being closed?  Are power lines going through our parks?  Are toll roads?  Is that last piece of coastal ranching history—that ranch house—just going to fall over soon because no one can afford to maintain it?  Is marijuana going to be grown in our parks?  Will we be safe in our parks?  Will "temporary" bridges that have been on trails for five years be replaced with ADA accessible bridges?  Will our politicians and citizens realize that State Parks generates over $4 billion annually for the State?  Will our local business owners and citizens recognize that their local State Parks bring in over $104 million just here in our back yard.  And of course, the biggest question————Will We Continue to Have State Parks?

Don't fall asleep on me now—that would be the easy thing to do.  Wipe the tiredness from your eyes and shoulders.  Prop 21 is the battle that counts.  This is real.  We will never have another chance like this fall to make this final charge to claim our heritage and our rights as California citizens to say ENOUGH.  We want our parks, we want them open, we want them operating, we want them protected.  PERIOD.  

I'm passing around the ammunition: 

1. Vote!
2. Read the fact sheets and convince others to vote.
3. Read the Endorsement and sign it for you and organizations you belong to.
4. Write letters to the editors of our local media
5. Volunteer for the campaign by handing out materials at a farmer's market
6. Attend our rally on October 21 at the plaza in San Luis Obispo
7. Put bumper stickers on your car.  Wear Prop 21 t-shirts  and hats
8. Be a regular on Yes for State Parks
9. Use the web: facebook, emails, twitter, text your support

This is the battle to win the war.  Good luck to us all, and I'll see you after we've taken the hill on November 2.  Charge on!

"If we are together, nothing is impossible.  If we are divided all will fail." Winston Churchhill

CCNHA is committed to the passage of Proposition 21 because of the dire situation in State Parks.  Please read the fact sheet and tell as many people as possible to support Proposition 21.  We also need volunteers to help staff tables to get the word out. Please contact me at 805.772.2694, extension 102 for questions or to volunteer.

Proposition 21: The State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010 Fact Sheet
(View PDF Color Fact Sheet)  (View PDF Version of Article)

Become a State Parks Docent

For more information on Proposition 21, please call 818.760.2121 or visit Yes For State Parks.  Yes on 21, Californians for State Parks and Wildlife Conservation, sponsored by conservation and state parks organizations. FPPC ID# 1322009