"This is a brave new world," said Chung, standing outside a San Rafael library where he was scheduled to meet with a potential donor.
Supporters have pooled $200,000 to keep China Camp solvent and need $50,000 more. Chung noted that even if they are successful, they will have to start over next year: "If we tell people that we are going to be successful every year, we'd be fooling ourselves, because we haven't done it yet."
China Camp boosters at least have a stable of potential donors in wealthy Marin County. In less fortunate locales, the prospects of quickly raising tens of thousands of dollars is dim.
Officials and supporters in Whittier are struggling to scrape together $80,000 to save the historic home of Pio Pico, California's last Mexican governor - even as the preserved rancho at Los Encinos State Historic Park 35 miles away has been spared from closure thanks to a $150,000 check from a single anonymous donor.
"In some of the richer areas, someone steps forward and writes a check for the full amount," said Whittier Assistant City Manager Nancy Mendez. "That's not the case here. They're getting $5 donations."
Some parks will make it for another year or two. A lot won't. Either way, Republicans across the country have assured that government of the people and for the people will fail, and that the rest of us have to beg the job creators and the one percent for scraps just to save state parks.
Much more cost-effective to give a billion to the GOP, right?
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