February 25, 2002

Public Trust Failure

Contrary to the Park District's expensive taxpayer-financed campaign for Measure K, they really haven't changed at all. Unfortunately the systemic problems that caused the voters to reject their last unjustified tax attempt remain.

-- wasteful of public resources
-- poor stewardship of our watersheds
-- lack of integrity in the public process
-- vindictive employee policies
-- poor employee morale
-- arrogant treatment of the public

In short, government at its worst. Unfortunately, the actions and policies of this management top-heavy bureacracy usually flies under the public’s radar due to their self-imposed isolation and a huge continuing P/R budget.

As an environmental activist for the past 24 years I've dealt with many public agencies, some good, some not so good. But they all seem to learn and improve over time, except one...the Park District.

It amazes me that, although they are drenched in money and extraordinary management salaries, they again want to burden the taxpayers with an unnecessary regressive additional tax.

I have worked hard with other environmentalists to protect our parklands and creeks over the years and wish some day to see an environmentally healthy Park District. Regrettably, I have no confidence that current management understands how to care for its natural, fiscal, or human resources.

Alan La Pointe
Friends of Parks, Co-Chair
Friends of Wildcat Canyon, Chair