The troubling aspects of this editorial from the Sacramento Bee are the assumptions it appears to be based upon.
The problem is largely defined as: “The "system" also has become increasingly fragmented, with myriad nonprofit groups running isolated park units (and, now, even a for-profit business running Gibson Ranch), with few resources devoted to connecting the pieces in an integrated, coherent whole.”
The solution is largely defined as: “There is some reason for hope…. Presented with a hypothetical ballot measure for a 10-year 1/8 cent sales tax to fund regional parks, 73 percent said they would vote "yes." The idea got support from more than 60 percent of voters in each of the five supervisor districts.”
So, if I have this right, the problem is that public/private partnerships of nonprofits working with government and forprofits working with government are running some of the parks and the solution is to raise taxes?!
This is a disjointed line of thought from a major media outlet in a country built upon a creative private sector and an innovative public sector, more often working in harmony than not, especially during a period of such great economic stress.
The fact that these public/private partnerships will quite possibly result in saving and enhancing some of our parks is a fact that should be celebrated rather than criticized.
An excerpt from the Bee editorial.
“The funding decline for parks has been precipitous. In 2001, the regional parks system received a general fund allocation of $6.4 million. A decade later, that has fallen to $2.9 million.
“The park "system" has been reduced to a skeleton staff of rangers and maintenance workers….
“The "system" also has become increasingly fragmented, with myriad nonprofit groups running isolated park units (and, now, even a for-profit business running Gibson Ranch), with few resources devoted to connecting the pieces in an integrated, coherent whole….
“There is some reason for hope. A Feb. 7-13 telephone survey of likely Sacramento County voters, conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz and Associates, found deep support for the county's parks and parkways.
“Asked to rate "How important would you say the county's regional parks are to the quality of life in Sacramento County?", 62 percent responded "extremely" or "very" important. Half say they visit regional parks several times each month, and 79 percent say they visit several times a year.
“Presented with a hypothetical ballot measure for a 10-year 1/8 cent sales tax to fund regional parks, 73 percent said they would vote "yes." The idea got support from more than 60 percent of voters in each of the five supervisor districts.”
