Mirador 12/17/09 News 5

Budget Cuts Hit California State Parks

NASA Proves Existence of Water on the Moonby Lauren Dahlberg-Seeth

The mysteries of earth’s nearest neighbor are beginning to unfold. After intentionally crashing two spacecrafts into a lunar crater, NASA determined that water does in fact exist on the moon.

Along with a two-ton rocket, a $79 million spacecraft called LCROSS, or Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, arrived on the moon on Oct. 9. Traveling at twice the speed of a bullet, the rocket, or Centaur, crashed into a crater named Cabeus, kicking up at least 25 gallons of water in the form of ice and vapor. As Centaur collided with the moon’s surface, the LCROSS satellite flew through the debris and collected data. After analyzing the LCROSS information, NASA scientists concluded that water was present in the Cabeus crater.

Although the amount of water wasn’t substantial, this discovery could be very useful for lunar colonization. In fact, NASA hopes astronauts will return to the moon within the next decade, and is considering the construction of a lunar base. At this base, astronauts could live and work for months at a time, while using the moon’s water resources to supply drinking water and create rocket fuel. Although NASA has considered this construction previously, the presence of water now suggests that the colony could be virtually self-sustaining.

After the Apollo missions, scientists deemed the moon “dead,” or lacking anything to offer future explorers. But these new discoveries indicate the opposite.

“We’re unlocking the mysteries of our nearest neighbor and, by extension, the solar system,” said Michael Wargo, chief lunar scientist at NASA

by Hannah Tennant

In late October, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that the state will cut $14.2 million dollars from the California State Parks funding. This will impact the overall quality of the state parks, the visitors’ experience, and the future protection for these historic landmarks and wildlife preserves.

The original proposition began in May 2009, when Schwarzenegger proposed a $70 million budget cut from the state parks. This would have closed 100 of California’s 279 state parks.

A notice was released on Oct. 27, which announced a reduction of this number to $14.2 million. Park management is taking other measures rather than shutting down state parks.

According to a public notice sent out by the California State Parks, common service reductions will include “reducing days of operation, closing or consolidating park offices, reducing off-season lifeguards at some beaches, removing some trashcans, fire rings, and restrooms at some beaches, reducing the days of visitor center operation, and reducing the number of school tours and interactive programs.”

Each park will make reductions and fundraise independently. The cuts aim to minimize visitor disruption while maintaining the required budget reductions. These budget cuts will not only impact state parks, but also

historic landmarks and museums.The California State Parks Foundation, or CSPF,

is taking action to place a measure on the November 2010 ballot entitled “California State Parks and Wildlife

Conservation State Fund.” This measure would ask Californians to purchase an annual $18 State Park Access Pass, and would place additional taxes on vehicle license fees. This money would help to prevent the expected $22.2 million budget cut for next year.

On their website, CSPF President Barbara Goldstein said, “Although we staved off the closure of 80% of the system (proposed by the Governor), and the elimination

of all core state funding for state parks (also proposed by the Gov), it’s clear that the powers that be in Sacramento aren’t riding to the rescue for state parks. Well, we’re done trying to convince them and we’re taking our case to the

people. CSPF is actively working to put the State Park Access Pass on the ballot in November 2010 and will be spending this fall and winter gathering public support.”

AP Environmental Science teacher Barbara Denny feels strongly about keeping State Parks accessible. “This is just another state challenge,” said Denny. “The State Parks are enjoyable to everyone. Californians must realize they have to do all they can to maintain access.”

These reductions hit close to home. The state will close Angel Island’s bathrooms on weekdays and drop a school camping program. At Mount Tamalpais, two campgrounds and two parking lots will permanently

close. Park officials will take trash cans away and lock bathrooms. It becomes especially important for visitors to clean up after themselves with a reduction of cleaning staff and trashcans.

At this time, CSPF is asking for as much public support as possible. The CSPF website offers a monthly informational newsletter which lists ways to contribute. Donations can also be made on their website www.calparks.org

Healthcare:continued from Page 1

Superintendant John Stockton, however, pointed out that the cost of covering the increase in insurance premiums is equivalent to the cost of maintaining the salaries of three teachers.

There was a similar situation six years ago, under former Superintendant Randall Olsen, when the district did not raise healthcare benefits to cover the increasing price of insurance. The teachers in the district had “contract days,” until the issue was resolved and the district agreed to pay the difference. A “contract day” is a form of protest where teachers only work for the amount of time that is denoted in their contract: from 7:30 to 3:15 with a break for lunch.

If teachers do this again in protest of lack of healthcare coverage, it would have a huge impact on the school because, as Carpenter explained, “most teachers work much more than that.”

While it is the increase in healthcare costs that will not be covered for current teachers, the lawsuit the district has filed against the union might result in cutting healthcare benefits completely for teachers who have already retired or who will retire in the future.

“Traditionally in spring, when teachers hit 60 and upwards, they consider retiring,” said Heard. “[But] no teacher under 65 is going to retire until they’re absolutely sure about what’s going to happen [with their healthcare benefits].”

If teachers who were planning to retire do not, and instead wait until they are 65 younger teachers, who are less expensive

to the district because teacher salaries are determined based on experience, will not be hired to replace them.

The district has said that it will layoff 16 teaching positions for the 2010-2011 school year. Because layoffs are also determined by experience, it is also the younger teachers who are more likely to lose their jobs. If fewer teachers retire this year than usual, more younger teachers will be laid off. By forcing

teachers who require higher salaries to stay and consequently reducing the number of younger teachers, it seems that the lawsuit and cross complaint will add to the district’s already daunting stack of budget issues.

Stockton made it clear that “[the district is] not trying to strip retirees of their benefits.”

Whether or not the district intends to cut retiree healthcare coverage, however, this may be the inevitable result after the court rules on the legality of the issue.

Budget cuts will affect Humboldt Redwoods, along with many others.Photo: M. Rightmire/ MCT

$14.2 million state park budget cuts result in reduced park operations, opening hours and days

Photo: S. Porter

Carpenter and his daughter at the protest.

Graphic: K. Straddins/ MCT

Headquarters in Washington, in The Guardian. “It turns out the moon harbors many secrets and LCROSS has added a new layer to our understanding,”

Although the LCROSS discovery promises many new developments in the future, NASA scientists still have plenty more data to analyze. While the presence of water was determined initially, discoveries in other areas are expected as well.

“The full understanding of the LCROSS data may take some time,” said Anthony Colaprete, principal investigator at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, in the Los Angeles Times, “The data is that rich. Along with the water in Cabeus, there are hints of other intriguing substances.”

While our understanding of space continues to develop, we still have much more to discover. In 2004, the Bush administration introduced the Vision for Space Exploration, which stated that NASA would return astronauts to the moon by 2020, and eventually begin the colonization of Mars. Unfortunately, these plans will not be completed unless NASA receives a significant raise in funding, approximately $3 billion a year. The Obama administration is reviewing these plans, but has made no indication towards what they intend to do.