Using Discovery Park to make an announcement about a parks bill was a great setting, though ignoring the homeless camp set up just down the road, and trying to ignore the protesters regarding planned park closures.
As governor plugs bill for park volunteers, protesters blast his plan to close some parks
By Andy Furillo - afurillo@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger played politics with parks Monday, using Sacramento County's treasured jewel of the American River Parkway as a backdrop to boost a bill to make it easier for volunteers to keep them clean and green.
Almost immediately afterward, the governor found himself jabbed by another prong in the politics of the parklands. Barely an hour after his appearance underneath the budding oaks by the banks of the river, some 200 protesters descended on the Capitol to implore Schwarzenegger to recant on his proposed budget cuts that would close 48 parks in the state system.
Schwarzenegger's support for volunteerism in the parks at the same time he is seeking to close four dozen of the state's finest came as a curiosity to some west steps protesters.
"I just question the juxtaposition of promoting volunteerism on one end and a proposal that would affect volunteerism on the other end," said Michele Luna, executive director of Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, a Sonoma County group that provides 350 volunteers to work at three state parks, two of which are slated for closure under the governor's budget. "It doesn't quite make sense."
Gubernatorial spokesman Aaron McLear said there was nothing inconsistent about the governor's push for volunteerism while advocating the closures.
