“Using the New York State Parks is a privilege not a right” Carol Ash“Working for Parks is a privilege not a right”. John TigheWell Victoria Pool opened today to what might be the shortest season on record as the State faces a shutdown on Tuesday.
The Pool was quite crowded for a rainy cool Saturday, but every chair was taken by 11 am, so Parks still made money.
The Story of the day though is how much money Parks has lost by insisting on keeping the Pool closed for the month of June. Moreau Lake State Park has been open seven days a week to record crowds during our warm weeks of June that saw perfect sunshine for 3 out of four weekends. Some days like Father’s day and yesterday, Park officials turned away would be swimmers after the beach reached capacity.

Through all of this Victoria Pool remained closed not just to the public but to guests of the Gideon Putnam Spa Resort
HERE. The hotel has also been receiving some horrible reviews as seen
HERE. Really how can one call itself a resort when it was the only 4 star hotel not to have a Pool in all of Saratoga.
So all through the Phish and David Matthews concerts, the boat races at the Lake, Saratoga’s only outdoor pool was closed.
Now remember the Pool costs 8 bucks a pop. They have two lifeguards at $11 AN HOUR AND TWO ATTENDANTS AT $9 BUCKS AN HOUR. You don’t have to be an accountant to see Carol Ash’s decisions are costing the State; Big Time. With a crowd that can surpass 500 on a nice day and even a few hundred on a shitty rainy day like today. Victoria Pool makes Money. But Carol, it has to be open to make money.
Your staff confirmed that, Wednesday, June 23, 2010 in a story written by Tatiana Zarnowski in the Gazette.
Heather Mabee, chairwoman of the regional parks commission for the Saratoga-Capital Region, at a meeting Wednesday at Crailo Historic Site said
“State parks face increasing deficits in the next three years and parks are likely to face closure all over again next year”
Now this is were we enter the Twilight Zone of the Parks Dept.
“But the state lost revenue in vehicle use fees and pavilion rentals because the parks were closed for those weeks”, said Bob Kuhn, assistant regional director for the Saratoga-Capital Region
“There isn’t any doubt that our revenue is going to be down significantly,” he said.
BECAUSE
“Permanent staff at the closed parks were moved to other parks that stayed open, and most staffers took the change well,” said Alane Ball Chinian, regional parks director
ARE YOU PEOPLE FUCKING STUPID!!!You closed the Parks to save money, which only cut off your revenue stream, except for State money and then you didn’t lay anyone off. What did you think would happen you idiots?
Of course your staff took it well, they were paid for doing nothing.
AND WHAT NOW? A STUDY THEY JUST LOVE STUDIES.
A feasibility study is being done to research putting together a statewide nonprofit parks foundation that could raise money for the parks.
“Currently, each park or historic site has its own “friends” group that can raise money, but this would be a collaborative effort”, said Lucy Waletzky, chairwoman of the New York State Council of Parks, which represents all 11 state park regions.
So you want to get people to do your work for FREE.
Well this is not a friend’s Group. This is a DO YOUR FUCKING JOB GROUP.
Have you once ever tired to run the Parks efficiently and cut costs, while improving services? Do you even understand the concept, or will you keep blaming the State and the public when you are the problem.
As a PUBLIC SERVICE AND A FRIEND I WILL SHOW YOU SOME COST CUTTING TIPS.
Do you need a Landscape Architect for just the Saratoga-Capital Region? Do you know you have two?
Christopher More, Senior Landscape Architect Annual $75,863
Cary Engle, Landscape Architect Annual $54,628
Not to mention your own architect
Ann Shapiro, Senior Architect Annual $76,090
And then there is your
Artist in ResidenceRobin Schumacher, Artist Designer 3 Annual $50,531
And I’m not even trying CAROL.
How about these people,
Engineers, Biologist, grant writers.
What the fuck is this a make work program for unemployed engineers and architects?
Allen Dialberto, Senior Park Engineer Annual $69,383
Danielle Dwyer, Grants In Aid Program A 1 Annual $45,520
Nancy Engel, Environmental Education 1 Annual $50,531
Mary Grimaldi, Interpretive Programs Assistant Annual $53,366 \
Casey Holzworth, Biologist 1 Ecology Annual $50,989
Catherine Jepson, Parks Regional Grants Administration Annual $66,740
Elizabeth Mastrianni, Senior Park Engineer Annual $71,544
Patrick Monahan, Park Engineer Annual $56,465
Darlene Rogers, Interpretive Programs Assistant Annual $59,386
Helen Sheehan, Park Rec Supvr Annual $42,685
Joseph Sicko, Prin Engrg Tech Annual $56,217
And my Favorite.
Babette K Furman, Cook Annual $43,042
Come on Carol do you really need a cook?
I could do this all Day, Carol. So how about a watchdog Friends group to cut Parks waste, Hey what you say Carol?