Several months ago, Gov. Schwarzenegger issued a budget proposal that threatened to shut down several popular state parks. That didn't go over too well, so now Arnold is taking aim at another of the state's signature institutions, the California Conservation Corps.
According to a CCC-issued press release, Schwarzenegger has proposed eliminating the program and transferring some of its funding to 12 local conservation corps programs. Unfortunately, these local programs have no experience responding to natural disasters, something the CCC has done with distinction since its creation in 1976.
CCC Foundation Board Member Barbara O'Connor called the governor's decision "short-sighted." We'll go even further here: It's also incredibly stupid.
Annually the CCC provides more than 170,000 hours of conservation work throughout the state free of charge, with an estimated value of $2.4 million. In 2008 alone, CCC crews devoted a half-million man (and woman) hours to fire response, the largest effort in the Corps' 32-year history.
And we shudder to think what would happen to our national parks and national forests without the services of the CCC Backcountry Trails Program, which has been a wilderness fixture since its inception in 1979.
Here's a link to a story I wrote in October about how the Backcountry Trails Program impacts the lives of young people.
Thanks--- I was thinking it was incredibly stupid to consider cutting the CCC. I hope you can continue to keep your readers updated on this issue. The CCC saved my life in 1989. Thanks again--John Griffith
This is an outrage! My tax dollars go to inmates and "bridges to nowhere" but we automatically start cuts with the elimination of opportunities for our youth. The CCC has been providing opportunities to the young people of California and the Governator is terminating them...
Sounds like job security for the prison industry. Shameful.
Please find a healthy way to cut the budget -- our youth are our future. This program helps a lot of low income youth.
Please write the Governor and your state reps to support the CCC, also your reps in Washington. If you want more information check the CCC website at www.ccc.ca.gov and the CCC Foundation at www.cccfoundation.net. Another great ccc site is http://hardcorpsccc.blogspot.com/
We are about to lose a valuable resource for our state and
I really do not think the Gov. has thought about the additional costs to our state to replace them. Remember they work for minimum wage, no benefits and learn so much and provide so much.
"Hard work, low pay, miserable conditions and More! that is the CCC motto.
A former C's Mom and now a firefighters Mom.