Arboretum Fees: Public Meeting

ALERT!

5/28 Public Meeting On Aboretum Fees

On April 6, 2009, Rec & Park & the Mayor's Office announced a $5 fee for the Arboretum/Botanical Gardens. These gardens are public property and have been part of the Golden Gate Park for 68 years. They have been successfully sustained by tax dollars, and by contributions from the Botanical Society and volunteerism. The fee is part of a development plan to convert the gardens into a tourist attraction and is attempting to hide its real purpose under the budget crisis.

The Rec & Park and the Mayor's Director of Partnership's proposal for imposing fees was met with anger and disbelief by most of the nearly 300 people at the first publicized meeting about the fee, A month later over 2000 people have signed the petition opposing any fee at all.

Since the public protest was so fierce, Rec & Park and the Mayor's office have changed course. SF residents will be free (temporarily) and out of town folks are to pay $7. Residents will have to apply for a Park ID and show it at monitored kiosks to get it.

Parks Interim Manager Jared Blumenfeld told Rec & Park Commissions, May 7, 2009:

"WE WILL START BY CHARGING NON-RESIDENTS."

We say NO FEES -- NO I.D.'s

The San Francisco Labor Council went on record May 11, 2009 opposing any fees, and calling for emphasis on gardeners and recreational staff, and not fences, gates, kiosks, toll takers and security. The community is mobilizing for this meeting. Attend and make your voice heard.

6:30 - 8:00 PM
THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009
COUNTY FAIR BUILDING AUDITORIUM
(9TH AVENUE & LINCOLN WAY in GOLDEN GATE PARK)