Alcatraz Prison?

[bcla]

Oh, ok. Didn't realize such. Hopefully this will not affect our possible trip, but thanks!!

It's been a bunch of different factors, including new hires (less than one year experience) summarily fired, buyouts, and seasonal hires being halted for a time. There's some talk that this is coming from up high as a way to deliberately kill morale.

https://www.sfgate.com/california-p...-park-scientists-clean-bathrooms-20271616.php​

One employee told SFGATE that every year-round staff member in the Resources Management and Science Division, which includes biologists, hydrologists, archaeologists, wildlife specialists and all the park’s other scientists, had to pick up at least one bathroom cleaning shift.​

​

“I have signed up for it, but I don’t really have a choice in the matter,” the employee said. “I’m not above cleaning a bathroom but personally am sick of our leadership not pushing back on anything and just toeing the line.”​

​

In the internal email, which was shared with SFGATE by another employee, acting Superintendent Stephanie Burkhart’s office requests that the park’s division chiefs designate employees for bathroom cleanups.​

​

“As Division Chiefs, you are being asked to look at your staff and identify staff that can be temporarily reassigned to custodial duties for Upper Pines campground restrooms, at least from 4/15 through 5/4,” the email states.​

​

The email specifies five divisions — Interpretation & Education, Resource Management and Science, Information Technology, Commercial Services, and Safety — for cleanup responsibilities at 10 campground restroom facilities.​

 

[sndral]

…

“As Division Chiefs, you are being asked to look at your staff and identify staff that can be temporarily reassigned to custodial duties for Upper Pines campground restrooms, at least from 4/15 through 5/4,” the email states.​

​

…​

Upper Pines campground sounds like Yosemite.

 

[bcla]

Upper Pines campground sounds like Yosemite.

Yup. But the problems with maintenance have gone all up and down National Park Service units. I just picked one of the first (and possibly saddest) examples that came up. And the thing is that Congress passed laws that provided funding for maintenance, but that money isn't being spent. And the Secretary of the Interior has ordered that all closures of bathrooms have to go through him, so a lot are likely to remain open even if they're not being maintained.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...al-park-toilet-closures-staffing/83082076007/​

But she worries what the summer will bring, especially in those parks where the toilets are only cleaned once a week. She said she would feel bad using those parks this summer, knowing her presence might cause extra work for the stretched-thin staff.​

​

“The parks are already overcrowded and understaffed,” Miglioretti said. “I don’t know how they’re going to keep up with the toilets and the trash.”​

*******​

To minimize disruptions for visitors, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has ordered park service staff to keep open as many amenities as possible, in some cases requiring scientists, park rangers and supervisors to help clean toilets. Burgum's order says park officials can't close toilets or other amenities without the express permission of his office, stripping park superintendents of that discretion.​

​

At Yosemite National Park in California, that means staff from across the park, from information technology workers to archaeologists to wildlife biologists, have been asked to help clean campgrounds and toilets, according to the website sfgate.com. Park officials earlier this year delayed opening campground reservations while they scrambled to figure out staffing.​

At this point I would seriously reconsider a national park visit because of issues of sanitation and visitor safety. I say that as someone who loves our national parks.

 

[SL6827]

Yup. But the problems with maintenance have gone all up and down National Park Service units. I just picked one of the first (and possibly saddest) examples that came up. And the thing is that Congress passed laws that provided funding for maintenance, but that money isn't being spent. And the Secretary of the Interior has ordered that all closures of bathrooms have to go through him, so a lot are likely to remain open even if they're not being maintained.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...al-park-toilet-closures-staffing/83082076007/​

But she worries what the summer will bring, especially in those parks where the toilets are only cleaned once a week. She said she would feel bad using those parks this summer, knowing her presence might cause extra work for the stretched-thin staff.​

​

“The parks are already overcrowded and understaffed,” Miglioretti said. “I don’t know how they’re going to keep up with the toilets and the trash.”​

*******​

To minimize disruptions for visitors, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has ordered park service staff to keep open as many amenities as possible, in some cases requiring scientists, park rangers and supervisors to help clean toilets. Burgum's order says park officials can't close toilets or other amenities without the express permission of his office, stripping park superintendents of that discretion.​

​

At Yosemite National Park in California, that means staff from across the park, from information technology workers to archaeologists to wildlife biologists, have been asked to help clean campgrounds and toilets, according to the website sfgate.com. Park officials earlier this year delayed opening campground reservations while they scrambled to figure out staffing.​

At this point I would seriously reconsider a national park visit because of issues of sanitation and visitor safety. I say that as someone who loves our national parks.

Ughhhh. I believe you 100%. But it is an almost free trip out there, with his employer paying for most of that part. This is soooo sad. I truly thank you for the info though.

I wanna add that it would just be a one day trip thing from Vegas if that might make a difference?

 

[mdmost]

It would still be worth it. People are going to have to reset their expectations going forward. I would recommend treating it like you would a Disney trip. Get there early, expect crowds, bring some essentials, and realize it might not be as ideal as you hoped. I haven't been to the Grand Canyon but I'd imagine it would have the same issues other parks might have in terms of high crowds at the entrances and maybe check if there are timed entries like you have at Rocky Mountain National Park to do the mountain road.

 

[bcla]

Ughhhh. I believe you 100%. But it is an almost free trip out there, with his employer paying for most of that part. This is soooo sad. I truly thank you for the info though.

I wanna add that it would just be a one day trip thing from Vegas if that might make a difference?

OK. At this point I wouldn't consider going camping or a week long trip. But I could see a day trip being passable.

 

[SL6827]

OK. At this point I wouldn't consider going camping or a week long trip. But I could see a day trip being passable.

Oh ya, I'm no camper! But that dude in my pic sure is! Lol!!!

 

[bcla]

Oh ya, I'm no camper! But that dude in my pic sure is! Lol!!!

My problem is that the state of National Park Service bathrooms is bad enough as it is when there's daily maintenance. I don't want to think of what it's like if it hasn't been serviced in a week.