California has an incredibly groovy State Park system. It’s big, and it’s mind-bogglingly diverse. I’m continually baffled stunned, bemused, aggravated, exasperated, and nonplussed by the Parks management and by the CA State government which runs it. One source of bewilderment is Jerry Brown’s choice of Anthony L. Jackson to be State Parks Director. He’s a long-time Marine Corps officer with no discernable connection to the problems facing the parks.
The more I read about the guy, the more I say WTF? But seriously, WTF? Some of the articles I’ve read try really hard to make it sound like he knows more about California’s State Parks than your average space alien, but they’re not very convincing. “Although lacking a formal connection to park service, Jackson links his military career to his advocacy for conservation and alternative energy.” But seriously, does alternative energy have a closer relationship to State Parks than working on a military base in Okinawa does?
‘ “I love the California state parks,” he said. “And I bought an RV in January (2012) …. We figured we would mark every state and natural park in the state of California in it, and since January, we have put nearly 10,000 miles on it” ‘ Wow. He’d been visiting the parks for several months before he got the job. I’m so impressed.
Can somebody out there in web land help me out here? Why did this guy get the job? Is this Jackson guy really the one to turn around the troubled, twisted bureaucracy with the demented priorities? Couldn’t the Governor find anybody who’d even visited the parks before 2012? Does Jerry Brown even give a fuck about the parks?