Middle Class and Poor Lose in Park Fee Hikes

Re “Governor Will Boost Park Fees to New Highs,” Dec. 31: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s policy of raising state park fees while lowering auto license fees is essentially a declaration of war -- a war of values and a war of classes. The governor sees affordable access to publicly owned property as a luxury and ownership of any number of private vehicles as a right. He’s got it backward.

Even those who run the system don’t understand its significance. Comparing access to our heritage -- our natural environment and historical monuments -- with the luxury of “going to the movies,” as state parks spokesman Roy Stearns suggests, is ludicrous. We’ve seen this war in California before -- property rights versus public rights -- and the subsequent undermining of museums, libraries and other publicly owned commons. In each episode the wealthy have benefited at the expense of the middle class and poor -- and society at large.

In a political climate where “family values” and spiritual foundations are touted, too many of us will be losing affordable access to a program and environment that undeniably nurtures both. For our bodies and our souls, ready access to our state park system is of far greater importance than the luxury of any number of movies or automobiles.

Donald Archer

Cambria

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Schwarzenegger is a genius. He has figured out a way to make up for the $4-billion loss of state revenue when he rescinded the restoration of the vehicle license fee to its original level. He will offset this loss by raising state park fees “to their highest levels ever.” There is one rather major problem with the governor’s action: The $18 million that will be acquired by this fee increase represents less than 1% of the loss of license fee funds. Good going, Gov. Schwarzenegger! Any other brilliant ideas?

Joseph M. Ellis

Woodland Hills

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So, Gov. Schwarzenegger, raising state park fees to their highest levels ever is what you came up with? Is this the “waste” you promised to find when you vowed to open up the books in Sacramento? Now really, who’s affected, if anyone, by this park fee increase? Is it our poorer residents? What good Republican cares about “them” anyway? Look at it this way: The governorship your Republican allies bought you has cost Californians over $70 million, so I guess the additional $18-million annual revenue gain from your state park fee increase will pay off the recall election in, oh ... four years or so.

Kevin McDermott

Los Angeles