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| The Shutdown’s Lasting Damage to Joshua Tree | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| (Here’s the sign-up, if you don’t already get California Today by email.) | (Here’s the sign-up, if you don’t already get California Today by email.) |
| During the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, I drove out with a few girlfriends to stay at a house in Yucca Valley, not far from Joshua Tree National Park. | During the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, I drove out with a few girlfriends to stay at a house in Yucca Valley, not far from Joshua Tree National Park. |
| This was just a short time into the government shutdown and things felt normal, not chaotic. The Joshua Tree Saloon was bustling, not wild. | This was just a short time into the government shutdown and things felt normal, not chaotic. The Joshua Tree Saloon was bustling, not wild. |
| Now, though, we’re almost three weeks into a national ordeal that doesn’t seem to have an end in sight — and it’s going to end up costing more than if the government was operating normally. | Now, though, we’re almost three weeks into a national ordeal that doesn’t seem to have an end in sight — and it’s going to end up costing more than if the government was operating normally. |
| Thousands of federal workers already living paycheck to paycheck are worried about making rent and feeding their families. | Thousands of federal workers already living paycheck to paycheck are worried about making rent and feeding their families. |
| Many national parks that were hanging on with the help of volunteers who picked up trash or helped clean bathrooms are closing to the public. (Joshua Tree was also set to shut down, but avoided a temporary closure.) | Many national parks that were hanging on with the help of volunteers who picked up trash or helped clean bathrooms are closing to the public. (Joshua Tree was also set to shut down, but avoided a temporary closure.) |
| Still, Casey Schreiner said permanent damage was most likely already done. | Still, Casey Schreiner said permanent damage was most likely already done. |
| “There’s an element of a lot of dismissal on the internet, like, ‘Oh, you can clean up bathrooms for a couple weeks, that’s fine,’” he said. “That oversimplifies how complex these places are.” | “There’s an element of a lot of dismissal on the internet, like, ‘Oh, you can clean up bathrooms for a couple weeks, that’s fine,’” he said. “That oversimplifies how complex these places are.” |
| Mr. Schreiner is the founder and editor in chief of the website Modern Hiker, which aims to promote the responsible enjoyment of the West Coast’s parks and hiking trails. | Mr. Schreiner is the founder and editor in chief of the website Modern Hiker, which aims to promote the responsible enjoyment of the West Coast’s parks and hiking trails. |
| While we didn’t make it into the park itself, the vastness of the desert landscape, even in populated areas, can feel overwhelming. | While we didn’t make it into the park itself, the vastness of the desert landscape, even in populated areas, can feel overwhelming. |
| That’s part of the beauty of the outdoors, of course. It can make you feel small, like your problems and your actions are a little less consequential. | That’s part of the beauty of the outdoors, of course. It can make you feel small, like your problems and your actions are a little less consequential. |
| But Mr. Schreiner said that feeling can be a double-edged sword. | But Mr. Schreiner said that feeling can be a double-edged sword. |
| “If you’re not a desert person, you don’t understand how fragile these environments are,” he said. “They look like they’re built to take a beating.” | “If you’re not a desert person, you don’t understand how fragile these environments are,” he said. “They look like they’re built to take a beating.” |
| During the shutdown, these environments are more at risk. | During the shutdown, these environments are more at risk. |
| Desert flora rely on a fine layer of cryptobiotic soil, which Mr. Schreiner said, “can take literally thousands of years to form and can be crushed with a single footprint.” | Desert flora rely on a fine layer of cryptobiotic soil, which Mr. Schreiner said, “can take literally thousands of years to form and can be crushed with a single footprint.” |
| Animals, like desert bighorn sheep, are susceptible to the unfamiliar pathogens that dogs can carry, which is why many trails don’t allow them. | Animals, like desert bighorn sheep, are susceptible to the unfamiliar pathogens that dogs can carry, which is why many trails don’t allow them. |
| The issues raised by the shutdown have just heightened broader philosophical discussions about the reasons we protect public lands, as social media draws more and more visitors. | The issues raised by the shutdown have just heightened broader philosophical discussions about the reasons we protect public lands, as social media draws more and more visitors. |
| “The issue is, how many people is too many people?” Mr. Schreiner said. “The parks service mission is to preserve these places for future generations, it’s not so that everyone can visit them.” | “The issue is, how many people is too many people?” Mr. Schreiner said. “The parks service mission is to preserve these places for future generations, it’s not so that everyone can visit them.” |
| (A note: We often link to content on sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times stories, but we’d also encourage you to support local news if you can.) | (A note: We often link to content on sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times stories, but we’d also encourage you to support local news if you can.) |
| • Los Angeles public schoolteachers were set to walk off the job today to protest what they describe as untenable working conditions. But yesterday, the teachers’ union announced it was postponing the strike until Monday over legal questions. [The New York Times] | • Los Angeles public schoolteachers were set to walk off the job today to protest what they describe as untenable working conditions. But yesterday, the teachers’ union announced it was postponing the strike until Monday over legal questions. [The New York Times] |
| • The government shutdown has halted firefighter training, some brush clearing and other wildfire prep. Things could get worse, too. [The Sacramento Bee] | • The government shutdown has halted firefighter training, some brush clearing and other wildfire prep. Things could get worse, too. [The Sacramento Bee] |
| • A federal judge is weighing whether to order Pacific Gas and Electric to inspect its entire electric grid and turn off power during windy weather if the company hasn’t determined everything’s safe. The moves come as the utility faces scrutiny and ailing finances over its role in devastating wildfires. [The San Francisco Chronicle] | • A federal judge is weighing whether to order Pacific Gas and Electric to inspect its entire electric grid and turn off power during windy weather if the company hasn’t determined everything’s safe. The moves come as the utility faces scrutiny and ailing finances over its role in devastating wildfires. [The San Francisco Chronicle] |
| • After a bike crash, an ambulance took a woman to the city’s largest public hospital: Zuckerberg San Francisco General. She was left with a tab of more than $20,000, and the hospital didn’t accept her private insurance. Experts said the hospital’s billing practices are unusual. [Vox] | • After a bike crash, an ambulance took a woman to the city’s largest public hospital: Zuckerberg San Francisco General. She was left with a tab of more than $20,000, and the hospital didn’t accept her private insurance. Experts said the hospital’s billing practices are unusual. [Vox] |
| • Tom Steyer, the billionaire who has crusaded for President Trump’s impeachment, won’t join the pack of Democrats running for president in 2020 after all. [The New York Times] | • Tom Steyer, the billionaire who has crusaded for President Trump’s impeachment, won’t join the pack of Democrats running for president in 2020 after all. [The New York Times] |
| • There are more white men named James or Jim in the State Legislature than there are African-American and Asian-American women combined. Here’s more about the demographics of the new class. [CALmatters] | • There are more white men named James or Jim in the State Legislature than there are African-American and Asian-American women combined. Here’s more about the demographics of the new class. [CALmatters] |
| • “I would say for those of us who created Black Lives Matter, it really does start with Oscar Grant as our Rodney King moment.” How art and activism have informed each other in Oakland over the decade since a BART officer shot a young man at a station. [KQED] | • “I would say for those of us who created Black Lives Matter, it really does start with Oscar Grant as our Rodney King moment.” How art and activism have informed each other in Oakland over the decade since a BART officer shot a young man at a station. [KQED] |
| • One Oakland artist is Ryan Coogler, whose “Fruitvale Station,” was a moving portrait of Mr. Grant’s last hours. Now, The Carpetbagger asks if Mr. Coogler, the director of “Black Panther,” and his team of female collaborators, will get their due at the Oscars. [The New York Times] | • One Oakland artist is Ryan Coogler, whose “Fruitvale Station,” was a moving portrait of Mr. Grant’s last hours. Now, The Carpetbagger asks if Mr. Coogler, the director of “Black Panther,” and his team of female collaborators, will get their due at the Oscars. [The New York Times] |
| • San Francisco’s AT&T Park, home of the Giants, will now be Oracle Park. [The San Francisco Chronicle] | • San Francisco’s AT&T Park, home of the Giants, will now be Oracle Park. [The San Francisco Chronicle] |
| • Here’s our 52 Places to Go in 2019. Puerto Rico is No. 1. Santa Barbara clocks in at No. 3. Los Angeles is No. 41. Yes, its sub-headline says, “Finally, more than Grauman’s (groan),” but the list is, as always, gorgeous and worth reading. [The New York Times] | • Here’s our 52 Places to Go in 2019. Puerto Rico is No. 1. Santa Barbara clocks in at No. 3. Los Angeles is No. 41. Yes, its sub-headline says, “Finally, more than Grauman’s (groan),” but the list is, as always, gorgeous and worth reading. [The New York Times] |
| Mr. Schreiner, of Modern Hiker, said that regardless of whether national parks are officially open, he’s recommending that people just stay away for now. | Mr. Schreiner, of Modern Hiker, said that regardless of whether national parks are officially open, he’s recommending that people just stay away for now. |
| Fortunately for Californians, there are tons of state and county parks with incredible options for a stunning hike. In Southern California, he said, this is the best time of year to go. | Fortunately for Californians, there are tons of state and county parks with incredible options for a stunning hike. In Southern California, he said, this is the best time of year to go. |
| Want to see some Joshua trees and moon-like desert? Head to Saddleback Butte State Park: “If you’re jonesing to see some weird crooked trees, that’s the place.” | Want to see some Joshua trees and moon-like desert? Head to Saddleback Butte State Park: “If you’re jonesing to see some weird crooked trees, that’s the place.” |
| It’s too early for the kinds of blooms that have made headlines in years past, but Mr. Schreiner said Anza-Borrego State Park is always a great option for camping, plus it’s free. | It’s too early for the kinds of blooms that have made headlines in years past, but Mr. Schreiner said Anza-Borrego State Park is always a great option for camping, plus it’s free. |
| If you’re looking for breathtaking coastline and redwoods, you can’t do better than the Big Sur area state parks, like Limekiln or Julia Pfeiffer Burns. | If you’re looking for breathtaking coastline and redwoods, you can’t do better than the Big Sur area state parks, like Limekiln or Julia Pfeiffer Burns. |
| No matter where you go, though, make sure you’re mindful. Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has some guidelines. | No matter where you go, though, make sure you’re mindful. Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has some guidelines. |
| California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. | California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. |
| Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, went to school at U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter, @jillcowan. | Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, went to school at U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter, @jillcowan. |
| California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley. | California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley. |