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Park fight

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Illinois

Here are some excerpts from articles that I referenced in today’s Capitol Fax about budget cuts to state parks and the Illinois Department of Natural Services.

First, from Bernie Schoenburg’s column, “Job-cutting governor hasnâ€™t visited parks, prisons”

When officials of the Sierra Club, the Illinois Environmental Council, Partners for Parks and Wildlife, and a state workers union were at the Statehouse last week to say planned personnel cuts would be a major threat to the stateâ€™s natural resources, another interesting point was raised about the governor.

Nobody at the event could say whether Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH has ever been to a state park while in office. […]

I asked the governor about that at the end of a news conference that week. The governor looked at me as he walked out of the room, but did not answer the question.

Blagojevich spokeswoman REBECCA RAUSCH said this week she does not believe Blagojevich has been to any prison or mental health center during his term. Although noting she has worked for the governor for only one of the two years heâ€™s been in office, Rausch said she is not aware of any visits he has made to state parks.

And now, Dale Bowman of the Sun-Times from December 29 of last year (”Seeing Illinois from the bottoms up”)

Gov. Blagojevich has [state parks] under attack. Jan. 14 will be the last day for 87 employees in the latest round of layoffs at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The sites matter to me. Not just well-known state parks, but the smaller unique spots.

Maybe collective memory can deflect the hatchets. I have many memories associated with Illinois’ public sites, including being married at one. Many readers do, too.

Beginning Sunday, I will run a weekly feature with a memory of an Illinois site.

Bowman’s column from January 16 (”State’s resources deserve sound environment”) made this point:

More hidden but just as devastating is the loss of fundamental office staff. Licensing is in shambles. Applications arrive days before or after deadlines. Data compilation of vital waterfowl surveys (vital to the public) are not getting done because Kathy Thornburg is gone.

If you feel as if the IDNR is sinking, you have the right sense.

And this from a Lew Freedman column in the Tribune early last year entitled “Blagojevich shows no feel for state’s outdoors legacy” and which may have sparked all the anger:

Blagojevich’s proposition is potentially calamitous to all outdoors interests. That’s why an attack on one is an attack on all, and unified opposition is necessary. If this plan is enacted, Rod Blagojevich may be remembered as the the governor who shuttered state parks. Not a pretty legacy.

Les Winkler of the Southern Illinoisan had this to say recently in a column entitled “BLAGOJEVICH IS CUTTING WAY TOO MUCH FROM THE IDNR”:

Re-election be damned! It’s time for Gov. Blagojevich to do what is right for the state.

In the past six months, the Blagojevich administration has gutted the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. […]

So, it’s time for the governor to make a decision.

Should Illinois citizens continue to be short-changed? Should conservation programs continue to be placed on the back burner? Or, should we take a step forward and introduce a minimal state tax to fund conservation programs.

There are a LOT more columns and stories like these, but you get the idea.

I saw some comments in a previous post about Starved Rock from people who want to see even more cuts at IDNR. But we’re talking about qualify of life issues here and the legacy that we’ll pass on to future generations. So, if you’re a crank who hates all taxes and spending and are permanently glued to your computer screen, then please don’t bother posting your goofy rants to this post. We ought to be able to have a discussion without the over the top ravings.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 27, 05 @ 8:10 am

Comments

Wow. Blago got a lot of support downstate, esp. in the primary. If he loses that, he become more vulnerable to a primary challenge.

Not good for him either if there is a steady drip drip of bad press, either.

Comment by Pat Collins Thursday, Jan 27, 05 @ 10:31 am
Pat, for the first time this week, I totally agree with you.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 27, 05 @ 10:40 am
Its admirable that these groups are fighting for what they believe in… But I have a hard time putting “nature walk guides” ahead of education, health care, and public safety. The Governor inherited a fiscal mess. Tough choices, but I think he is doing the right thing. This is better than having to close the state parks or charge a fee.
We need to keep this all in perspective.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 27, 05 @ 8:47 pm
Looks like you got the talking points. Good for you.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 27, 05 @ 9:18 pm
Congratulations Rich, you’ve now got Bradley Tusk reading your blog and posting responses!

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 28, 05 @ 10:42 am