As the reduced correspondments endanger our national parks, “the best America” star-news.press/wp

When the British Romonelist JB Priestley visited Grand Canyon in the 1930s, he described him as “All Beethoven’s nine symphonies in stone and magical light”.

“If I was American,” he wrote, “I should be a memory of the final test of men, art and politics, or a member of the Federal Government, to visit, with triumphant pride, to be on the staff of Grand Canyon.”

In February, as part of the Trump Administration efforts to reduce the size of the federal labor force, approximately 1,000 employees were fired through the park. When the Federal Government dropped some staff by Park Service, which works in the canyon, this was a scene near the southern hoop:

In weeks, there have been protests in hundreds of locations Park services, from Acadia to Sion.

Jim Landahl was working as a seasonal ranger for years, until he received a promotion to a permanent publication in Grand Canyon six months ago. Then he came to the final email. He said he said “I missed the necessary skills, qualifications to perform this job. And I knew it was a lie. Who wrote that letter in the canyon in the canyon to do our job.”

Landahl’s work included the restoration of habitats disturbed by the reconstruction of the park leak Transcanyon waterlinethat provides water in a lodge and other infrastructure. Since he was in this position for less than a year, he was classified as a “working worker”.

“The project is a critical infrastructure project for Grand Canyon,” Archaeologist Leah Gallo said. “And without that, there would be a pretty big canyon.”

Gallo worked only on the project for two weeks when she let go. “I spent pretty every Dime to move here,” she said.

But this last Thursday, The two federal judges ruled that the government must return thousands of fired workers Over several agencies, revealing that the releases were made under a false pretext – that performance was not a factor.

It is currently unclear if and when the parks parks can return to work.

Mindy Riesenberg is the head of communication for Grand Canyon Canyona non-profit group supporting the park. As we enter the strenuous season, he says he is worried about the people who have to wait in a few hours long lines just to enter the park. “We had almost five million visitors last year in Grand Canyon,” she said. “And now I think we’re down about 11 collectors for a southern hoop, for five million people a year.”

When we visited the canyon last weekend, visitors were waiting for up to an hour and a half to enter the park. In New Mexicou, Carlsbad Caverns National Park has canceled all LED tours. Colorado’s Florissant Fossil Bed National Monument It was announced that it will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays due to cuts of staff.

The cuts also impact during the project visitors may not see, such as Transcanyon waterline. Riesenberg said, “That project will be held, because scientists and botanists and arborists who were full of trees in the shade, for safety, after that project, and that will stop all.”

Chuck Sams, who served as 19. Director of the National Park service, departed in January. He said, “Me, he seems to have no rhyme or reason why these things take place.”

During his time as the director, Sams said, “I absolutely felt we need more employees. The National Park should have at least 25% more staff in the field. It is that these people are there. And now we’ve seen 10% reduction In staff. So, it will be harmful to the experiences of people in parks. “

He asked for a comment, the National Park’s Office said the “CBS Sunday morning”, “the National Park remains in its commitment to the US public and preserving natural and cultural resources entrusted to our concern. However, the NPS policy is not a commenting regarding the staff.”

Meanwhile, a group of current employees known as “Ranger resistance” Follow the cuts, speaking on behalf of his colleague staff.

One ranger, who asked to hide their identity out of fear of retaliation, told us, “None of us want to work. I can not be separated from the mission. I do it for love and nephews. I do it for people to come for 150 years.”

Ranger is especially worried about the visitor lovers that will be addressed to the parks of parks this spring and summer. “We were banned for the beginning, and now our knees are cut off,” they said. “In addition, we have 12 billion dollars deficit for maintenance. As, every national park asking that I pointed to six or seven priority products that should have happened in history; 331 million people went to the parks last year. It is an absurd number of people.”

Americans love their national parks. Last year, the survey of the investigation opinions in the Pew Research Center revealed that, when it comes to federal agencies, The public has the most favorable view of the National Park service. He is most ranked with Democrats and Republicans.

Sams said, “During my service as the director of the National Park service, I have not met the park in their home country. Moving forward, there must be a strong understanding that parks and fauna, natural and cultural resources within the park do not belong to any political foreigners.”

Damaged Lynda Jones Training Specialist joined the Park Service to serve your country. “Both parents are veterans,” she said. “They served in the army. And they planted me in the importance of a public service.”

While the judgment of the court returned their position on Thursday on National Recreational Area for Glen Canyon (At least temporarily), the trump complaint – and a larger force reduction is still possible.

Which leaves the park staff such as Jones who deal with the uncertain future, is worried about what to come. “This is the story of America,” Jones said, tearing. “The story of people living here. And it doesn’t matter your background or where you’re from. These places belong to all of us. And they are really the best idea of ​​America.”

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A story produced by Anthony Laudato. Editor: Carol Ross.

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