As this article from the Sacramento Bee notes, the loss of ranger presence in the state parks system, due to the severe budget cuts, will probably result in a big increase in crime; a natural consequence when law enforcement reduces its presence.
The situation is the same in the Parkway, compounded by the inability of public leadership to address the long simmering issue of illegal camping by the homeless in the Lower Reach of the Parkway; which is a crimeogenic situation impacting Parkway users and the adjacent community.
Our solution to the problem in the Parkway is to form a Joint Powers Authority (JPA)—currently being discussed by public leadership—and create a nonprofit organization to manage the Parkway and raise supplemental funding philanthropically.
The advantages here are obvious, as the JPA provides a broader funding stream for base funding, and the managing nonprofit (as a 501 c (3) nonprofit organization) has the ability to raise supplemental funding, with public safety the priority.
An excerpt from the Sacramento Bee article on state parks.
“Crime in California's state parks has more than doubled over the past decade, outpacing growth in the statewide crime rate and in park use, according to a review of park crime data by The Bee.
“There were 58,475 criminal incidents in California's 279 state parks in 2008, or an average of 160 every day, according to crime data obtained from the state Department of Parks and Recreation. The crime rate rose from 35 crimes per 100,000 visitors in 1999 to 75 last year.
“From simple trespassing to theft of artifacts, park crime has been raised as a leading concern as the state prepares to close more parks on weekdays – or for entire seasons – to address a budget crisis.
“State Parks Department officials blame the increase largely on urbanization pushing up against park borders.
“Other park advocates say years of tight budgets have left parks inadequately patrolled by rangers. As park use increased 20 percent in the past decade – to 79 million people – the number of rangers remained flat.”
