Who Watches the Watchtower? Surveillance Equipment Replacing State Park Employees
It has finally happened: the paranoid were right. You are being monitored by cameras at all times, and computers are taking your jobs. Even in the great outdoors.
At least, that's what it looks like in a report released this morning by the AP, which looks at the number of fire prevention stations in Oregon, Washington and California's state parks--and how many are unoccupied, because forest rangers and other state park employees have been replaces with machines.
From the report:
Advancements in technology such as cameras and aerial surveillance have replaced staffed lookouts. Many of the structures are now rented to hikers, and some are used as remote fire detection sites employing a camera array.
According to the report, out of 625 lookout sites in the state of Washington, 107 still boast actual buildings**, and only 30 are staffed by actual people.
Of course, if technological advancements and humanless lookout points are cost effective, it's no surprise that that's the route the State is taking. The parks get much of their operational budget from the general fund, which was slashed in this year's tough legislative session. But, unlike other states, which have suffered partial or whole government shut-downs (and, by proxy, been forced to shutter their parks), Washington State is taking steps to keep them open.
This summer marked opening season for the Discover Pass, which is the cute name given to the pay-to-park-at-the-park pass campaign, designed to drum up funds to keep the parks running.
We're not sure how many deposed forest rangers and other state employees are being forced to join the ranks of the unemployed as a result of these cost-saving measures. But if they're looking for an empathetic ear, we're sure there are plenty of astronauts who can share their pain.
**These buildings, by the way, are often used for recreational purposed. You can rent some of them, and they make pretty bitchin' places to stay.
