Editor:
Half the people who work for the Department of Parks and Recreation don’t serve in the parks; they work in sector and regional offices and in Sacramento (“A Place in the Woods,” May 3). Just for fun? Dial up the North Coast Redwoods district office at 445-6547 and press 9 for list of extensions. Do the needs of the state parks in Del Norte, Humboldt and a bit of Mendocino call for a full-time geologist, plus a full-time archaeologist? What about that landscape architect? (As one person put it, “But I thought the parks were already landscaped?”)
More to the point, do the people of California prefer to retain those positions while parks are shut down? It’s important to remember that park closures were not mandated by the governor or the legislature. That idea came from the Department of Parks and Recreation itself, and it stinks of self-serving politics.
Susan Nolan
McKinleyville
This article appears in Humboldt County District Soup.
SacBee/data center lists salary for many govt. employees. Nearly 100 people are listed as “Chiefs” making more than $100K. Local Michelle Gardner is #62. 3 on the list make more than the governor. It is sad with a staff of 20, Michelle has trouble finding someone to clean the toilets. And they can’t lock up Fort Humboldt during the week or their staff of 20 would have no where to go – and they have to spend $200K of our bond money for upgrades in this “closed park.” They don’t get it.
Herschel did the homework. Many of those park employees that don’t work in parks are in highly paid professional and management classifications.
yup, parks is one thing. think how many teachers, fire fighters, police have been sent home while CA Dept Fish and Game employees sit in office bcuz they have no money for fuel in the State vehicles.