Funding Priorities

On June 1 The Times carried a detailed article, “State Parks in Crisis, Panel Says.” It indicated California parks are in terrible trouble financially, which might result in raising taxes to maintain the parks and eliminating 226 jobs. It quoted Parks Director Donald Murphy as saying agency funding might be slashed by $32.4 million, forcing numerous park closures due to lack of resources. You also carried a second article reporting that President Bush will increase U.S. international aid (U.S. taxpayers’ money) to conserve forests in other countries by more than $100 million a year. Our government owes it to us to take care of our problems at home before spending our tax money all over the world.

LaVERNE LUCIAN, Van Nuys