Corrupt California State Parks system still needs work

According to a story in the LA Times, a new audit reveals that the California parks department, which was rocked by an accounting scandal last year, has not completely corrected its bad practices.   Assemblywoman Beth Gaines (R-Rocklin), who requested the audit, added that parks officials should be "moving faster."

The parks scandal broke last summer when it was revealed that the department had a surplus of $54 million at the same time the state was threatening to close parks because of a budget crisis. A subsequent investigation determined that roughly $20 million was deliberately hidden by parks officials.

Added Assemblywoman Gaines:  "California's state parks are among its most precious and beautiful resources. At the very least, they deserve reliable bookkeeping and quality leadership, neither of which they have right now."

What!?  Even with a Marine Corps "general" at the helm, the agency lacks "quality leadership"?!

Actually, I worked for this "general" a few years back.  He wasn't much a leader then either.  Which is why I don't subscribe to this modern cult of American military exceptionalism.  In my experience, it's mainly misguided self-delusion, plus a whole lot of smoke and mirrors.