Federal Closures

The closure of our national parks and other facilities has a permanent cost that cannot be recaptured. By way of example, I can address the economic ripple effect from the closure of Joshua Tree National Park.

Several years ago the University of Denver, in cooperation with the National Park Service, studied the economic effects of visitation by tourists to the park. Joshua Tree National Park enjoys 1.2 million visitor days each year. The study indicated that this visitation created $39 million in sales in the 50-mile zone around the park. This did not include the economic effect of salaries of Park Service scientists, other rangers, administrative employees or contractors.

The surrounding communities to Joshua Tree National Park benefited from tourism to the extent of $107,000 per day. This loss is permanent to the businesses that are affected and is surely reflected at other federal facilities which have been closed.

This is strange politics from the freshman Republicans who are so intent on saving us from fiscal waste.

JANE and PAUL SMITH

Twentynine Palms

The writers are innkeepers in Twentynine Palms.