Arizona state parks closing?

[folivier]

Just read about the closings due to the economy/budget.
Really hate to see this happen, as it will probably affect more states. Darn, just when I'm ready to start really travelling and seeing this beautiful country!

[encantotom]

Yes, i have written my local state representative (and he happens to be a neighbor and friend) and he has started to call me consituent, rather than tom.

we have gotten into grabbing another couple and going to lost dutchman state park for a bbq on evenings. take someone new each time and we love it. it is about 20 min from our house. it lost $9k dollars last year and took in 250k dollars and brings $4m dollars in revenue to surrounding business's.

it is crazy to close state parks.

they will fall into disrepar and then cost more to fix up than to keep running.

hopefully the cities they are near will take them over.

arizona state budget is in incredibly bad shape. i am on the state ecomomic development commission and get regular briefings....it is pretty bad.

the state thought construction would go on forever at the fantastic growth rate it was and budgeted that way.

tom

[folivier]

Yeah, Louisiana politicians thought oil would stay at $150/barrel. We're still paying off all of the needless spending from that fiasco a few years ago. Wouldn't it be nice if politicians would have to spend their own money instead of ours?

[chockwald]

I think politicians should be made to work for free when the budget is in the negative....I'm sure they would get it straightened out prett quickly that way! It's the same old thing every time budget time comes around....we'll have to lay off policemen and firemen if you don't let us increase your taxes.....not falling for that anymore...

OK, Forest....how many points will the Saints win the Superbowl by?

[folivier]

I'm not really a football fan, but the Saints are in uncharted waters!
The fans are totally nuts, but they deserve it since they've followed and supported a team that until recently was mediocre to horrible! New Orleans will be shut down tomorrow if they win! I think it'll be a pretty close game.
The funny thing is watching the discussions about how the superbowl may mess up the Mardi Gras parades.

[chockwald]

The Saints were very impressive after they got down 10-0.....then they went on a 31-7 romp. I remember back in the 70's when their fans wore paper bags over their faces, and called their team the 'Aints........only took 43 years to change that picture!

[folivier]

Yeah but the ridiculous thing is that the "Aints" couldn't figure out why the owner wouldn't pay higher salaries to attract better talent. Maybe it's because the superdome was almost full every game! If they would have quit making the owner so much money we might have had a better team years ago.