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Federal Funding Cuts Could Impact SD’s Natural Areas | San Diego Magazine

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Federal Funding Cuts Could Impact SD’s Natural Areas | San Diego Magazine


A reader recently reached out to tell me that a few weekends ago, she went to Joshua Tree National Park for a weekend of hiking and camping. This was after the news that the federal government was cutting funding to national parks, and that Joshua Tree would lay off six employees, leaving its job vacancy at about 30 percent. She said there was a very long line of cars to check into the park, and they had to wait about 40 minutes to get in.

I wasn’t able to reach anyone at Joshua Tree to see if this long wait time is unusual or whether there’s a link to the reduced staffing. However, according to a spokesperson for the National Park Service, “The [NPS] is hiring seasonal workers to continue enhancing the visitor experience as we embrace new opportunities for optimization and innovation in workforce management. We are focused on ensuring that every visitor has the chance to explore and connect with the incredible, iconic spaces of our national parks.”

Unfortunately, this still left me with questions, so I checked in with Mark Eller with the nonprofit Leave No Trace who says it’s clear that funding cuts are impacting hiking and camping across the state and around the San Diego region.

Courtesy of Joshua Tree National Park

“A lot of frontline workers that normally would be doing trail maintenance work to keep trails in good shape for the public may not be available, or might be getting pulled to other duties,” says, Eller. “We’ve definitely heard from a lot of our land manager partners that they’re concerned. Of course, there’s no clarity yet because the cuts are still subject to some lawsuits, and we’re not really trying to prognosticate who’s going to get cut or if it’s too early to say.”

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Another example he’s heard repeatedly is trash piling up and overflowing in park trash cans. When staffing is reduced, everyday activities like getting litter into a receptacle can be more complicated. This can lead to stuffed trash cans and, when visitors are in the park, they’ll need to start carrying their own trash out themselves. Eller suggests bringing plastic or garbage bags with you the next time you visit. 

“This has a big impact on the health of wildlife. If there’s trash being left out that normally would be emptied by a land manager, be prepared to deal with it yourself,” he says. “You don’t want to add to it because that’s going to draw in new wildlife trying to find that food, and that’s not healthy for them.”

Additionally, there will be no expansion to new lands and the cuts could also have a ripple effect to local and state parks. “Parks and natural areas around the country get different types of assistance from federal funds, or states can get into financial trouble in times like this, and they may have to divert resources from one thing for another,” he says. 

San Diego's Carbillo National Park which is in jeopardy after the federal government cut funding and jobs
Photo Credit: Cole Novak
Cabrillo National Park’s Tidepools

In San Diego, it’s unclear whether there has been an impact on places like Cabrillo National Monument—a spokeswoman for the foundation says they can’t comment and referred questions to the federal national parks system. 

Jennifer Morrissey with the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the park, says during times like these, local governments can lean more on nonprofits.

“The MTRP Foundation has provided more than $15 million in support to the park since our founding in 1988,” Morrissey says. “Some of this funding has been for capital projects and, more recently, for land acquisition, but we are a consistent source of funding to ensure Mission Trails can continue to be maintained and improved. With the city’s current budget shortfall, we will be able to help keep park projects going and fences mended.”

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Eller says lean times are also good opportunities for people to think about how they personally impact trails and parks. He encourages locals to continue getting outdoors and spending time in natural areas but to be mindful of how they are protecting the places they love most.

One way to do that, he says, is to follow the seven principles of Leave No Trace including planning ahead, camping on durable surfaces, and disposing of waste properly. He adds that volunteering with your local park is a great option, too, and make sure that you’re always staying on designated paths.

“People [should] stay on the trail or walk in the middle of the trail, as opposed to taking switchbacks or taking shortcuts, [because] those behaviors just add to trail erosion. A lot of people come to parks [with an] attitude of, ‘Well, somebody else will fix it,’” he says. “But that’s increasingly not true. And every time you do a little bit better in terms of your leading the safe behaviors, that helps protect the natural world from the impacts of people out enjoying it.”

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UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

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UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance


UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)

San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.

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The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.

The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.

San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.

The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.

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Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.

Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

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Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks


SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.

The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.

Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.

Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.

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The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.

As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.

The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.

Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”

Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.

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SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees

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SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees


SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Less than 3 weeks after the San Diego Unified School District finalized a new contract with teachers, the school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with layoff notices for other district employees.

The layoffs affect classified employees — workers who are employed by the district but are not teachers and are not certified. That includes bus drivers, custodians, special education and teacher aides, and cafeteria workers.

The district says it is eliminating 221 positions — 133 that are currently filled and 88 that are vacant — to save $19 million and help address a projected $47 million deficit for the next fiscal year.

Preliminary layoff notices will go out on March 15, with final notices by May 15.

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The district estimates about 200 classified employees will receive preliminary notices, but of them, about 70 are expected to lose their jobs based on union-negotiated bumping rules.

Bumping allows employees with more seniority to move into another position in the same classification, thereby “bumping” a less senior employee out of that role.

Lupe Murray, an early childhood special education parafacilitator with the district, said the news came as a shock after the teacher strike was called off.

“When the strike was called off, I’m like, ‘Yes!’ So then when I got the email from the Superintendent, I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ So, I think everyone was shocked,” Murray said.

The district says it sends out annual layoff notices, as all districts in the state do.

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Before Tuesday’s board meeting, classified employees rallied outside, made up of CSEA (California School Employees Association) Chapters OTBS 788, Paraeducators 759, and OSS 724. They were joined by parents, students, and the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Miguel Arellano, a paraeducator independence facilitator with San Diego Unified and a representative of San Diego Paraeducators Cahpter 759.

“What do we want? No layoffs! When do we want it? Now!” the crowd chanted.

Arellano said he felt compelled to act when he learned about the potential layoffs.

“The first thing that went through my mind was that I need to speak up. I need to protect these people,” Arellano said.

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Inside the meeting, the board heard emotional, at times tearful testimony from classified employees before voting unanimously to move forward with the layoff schedule.

Superintendent Fabi Bagula said the district has tried to protect classrooms from the cuts.

“We have tried our best to only, I mean, to not touch the school. Or the classroom. But now it’s at the point where it’s getting a little bit harder,” Bagula said. “What I’m still hoping, or what I’m still working toward, because we’re still in negotiations, is that we’re able to actually come to a win-win, where there’s positions and availability and maybe even promotions for folks that are impacted.”

Arellano warned the layoffs could have a direct impact on students.

“We are already spread thin, so, with more of a case load, it’s going to be impossible to be able to service all the students that we need to have,” Arellano said.

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Follow ABC 10News Anchor Max Goldwasser on InstagramFacebook, and Twitter.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.





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