Life on Pleasant Hill

As published in the NYS Assembly Minority Sportsmen Spring 2010 Newsletter: "Governor Paterson announced in February his plan to close 55 parks and historic sites, reduce services at an additional 24 facilities, and increase fees at state parks. Under the proposed closures, park officials said the grass would not be mowed, trails would not be groomed and roads would not be plowed. This would mark the first time in New York history that a state park was closed, ironically following a year where parks reached record attendance levels, as more New Yorkers have come to rely on these low-cost recreation facilities during the current  economic crisis. The truth of the matter is New York cannot afford to close its parks. For every $1 the state invests in parks, $5 in economic activity is generated for the state." 

And in today's East Aurora Advertiser newspaper: "Governor David A. Paterson announced Thursday that he had reached an agreement with the New York State Legislature to ensure that New York has sufficient revenues to maintain operations at all New York State parks and historic sites. In the early hours of Fri., May 27, the State Assembly approved the deal allowing the parks to reopen." The article goes on to say that $6 million in Real Estate Transfer Tax will be deposited into the Environmental Protection Fund, which will be used for the operation of 55 state parks and historic sites were closed. Of course, politicians always have to sneak something into a bill, "The bill passed by the State Assembly also increases fees and charges related to hazardous waste programs, and creates a ban on the disposal of electronics to be phased-in by 2015."

This whole scenario of closing state parks has just been silly from the beginning! Why would anyone agree with shutting down a service that generates revenue for the State? Election year gimmick?!