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Keeping LA's Park Rangers
an uphill battle
Dear parks folks, NCs, community groups, etc,
Regarding the status of the Mayor's 50% cut to the Park Rangers --
This is the situation as of right now:
I have double-checked with Wendy Greuel that actual money was restored along with the staff positions themselves, and the answer is...
YES!
So - WE WON! All Park Ranger position authorities including the Chief and $1.8 million was restored to the Recreation and Parks budget by the Budget and Finance Committee and the Mayor. Some of the maintenance cuts to Rec and Parks were also restored.
Yet - Not to be a buzz-killer, but indications are that next year's budget will be worse than this years'. We don't want to go through all of this again in 2009.
ACTION TO TAKE:
1. Thank the Mayor, the Budget and Finance Committee, and your councilperson immediately and profusely. Ask them not to cut the Rangers again next year.
2. Continue to file your public comments (THIS IS IMPORTANT):
- individuals and organizations other than neighborhood councils, you can file your public comment via email using the SamplePublicComment form attached to this message.
- Neighborhood councils -- file Community Impact Statements -- you need to be in the public record with your opinion. A sample is attached to this form. You can file a CIS until the day the budget is passed and the clerk closes the file. |
3. Think about how we can avoid this insanity next year . One thing that will help is if Rec and Parks gets moving and fills all of those Ranger positions in the next 6 months. Encourage them to do so by talking to RAP management at the Assistant GM level and higher.
4. Take other action... I'm thinking about what this should look like -- send me your ideas and we'll get started when everyone has had a well-deserved break. (!!) ksabo@wildwildwest.org |
We are all sick of having parks treated as expendable by elected officials are we responded loudly. YOU GUYS TOTALLY ROCK!!!!!
I'll see all of you who are still coming to City Hall today to make your public comment in person... Remember, thank the nice council people while asking them not to do this to us again. :-)
Kristin Sabo ----------------------------------
ksabo@wildwildwest.org
"... Park Rangers are on the front line of public safety in our parks, responding to more than 26,000 calls for service in 2007 alone. Services they provide include public safety, firefighting, search and rescue, community policing, wildlife, and educational.
These are critical factors in assuring public safety, therefore sufficient Park Ranger funding should be included as Core Services in the City budget.
With a wildfire season that the LAFD says will be one of the worst in history almost upon us, by decimating the Rangers, the City is potentially placing the lives of the 20 million annual parks visitors in danger...."
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Sample Community Impact
Sample Public Comment
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