National Parks Fast Falling Into Disrepair - CSM

[hatrack]

ASHLAND, ORE. – Leaky lodge roofs. Potholed roads. Beaches closed for lack of a lifeguard. Not enough rangers in their Smokey Bear hats teaching kids about flora and fauna. It's not a picture Americans want to imagine for their national parks - the "crown jewels" often likened to European cathedrals.

But as the nation approaches the year's first holiday weekend when families head for the mountains, seashore, and battlefield monuments, there's a groundswell of concern (bordering on revolt) among current and retired US Park Service employees over the condition of national parks. Despite the efforts and rhetoric of Interior Secretary Gale Norton and Park Service Director Fran Miainella, the backlog of much-needed park maintenance continues to grow, these employees say.

Insiders have leaked a Park Service memo ordering park superintendents to refer to budget-driven program cuts as "service level adjustments." Such adjustments, the memo suggests, could include closing visitor centers on some holidays, cutting back on ranger talks and tours, eliminating lifeguard services at beaches, and closing parks two days a week. In a sideshow drama, the chief of the park police in Washington has been threatened with dismissal for speaking out about budget needs and staffing levels.

EDIT

But critics say (and administration officials acknowledge) that's not enough to keep the resources in good shape while meeting the recreational and educational expectations of visitors. According to the General Accounting Office, the backlog of deferred maintenance at national parks has grown to something between $4 billion and $6.8 billion. Speaking at Everglades National Park the first summer of his presidency, President Bush pledged to "restore and renew America's national parks." Since then, however, the administration and Congress have budgeted $662 million in new funding for such improvements. That sounds like a lot, but spread over four budget cycles (2002-2005) it's inadequate to meet the need, say watchdog groups.

EDIT

http://csmonitor.com/2004/0525/p01s02-usgn.html

[phantom power]

1. those tax cuts sure are good for our country

[Malva Zebrina]

2. that is his usual method

restoring and renewing National Parks means, you know, like Abu Ghraib or many other places in Iraq--first destroy it and then hire private companies to "renew and restore" it. Give your buddy businesses the billions of dollars but first, run it into the ground.

Bush has no respect at all for this country, it's history, it's people or it's natural resources.

[phantom power]

3. or that other classic...

cut funding for a government program until it can't function, and then claim "see? government doesn't work!" Kind of like they are doing with public education.

People are so gullible. Tell them you'll cut their taxes, and you're a hero, but then nobody gets it when they end up paying huge tuitions for private schools. But it's all fine. Really. Cuz taxes are lower!