California Environmental Groups Hope to Save State Parks with DMV Fees

15 September 2009 - 12:00pm

Major environmental groups hope this year's park closures, caused by the California budget crisis, will inspire support for parks at the ballot box next year.

"If voters approve the measure — which needs a simple majority to pass — it would raise roughly $400 million a year, doubling the parks' budget and making it no longer dependent on the state's fluctuating general fund.

In exchange, all California motorists would get free admission to all state parks, which now charge up to $14 for entrance fees."

Previous attempts at raising fees to fund parks have been defeated.

Source: San Jose Mercury News, September 14, 2009
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The challenges of urban sprawl in outlying areas--like dangerous neighborhoods in the center city, and severe declines in jobs within reach of working people or inner city public schools--are rarely shared and never undertaken on a truly regional basis.