Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego closed due to government shutdown
SAN DIEGO (NBC, KYMA) - As the government shutdown enters its second week, the effects are being felt across the country.
In San Diego, the Cabrillo National Monument is closed to visitors and employees have been furloughed, disappointing visitors.
"We have less than 50 federal employees that work at Cabrillo National Monument, and about 200 volunteers work to support the park," said Emily Moore, Executive Director of the Cabrillo national Monument Foundation, a non-profit separate from the federally funded roles.
They manage and operate the store inside of the park, and help fund about 20 programs, like school field trips, to see the tidepools, the lighthouse, walk the trails, get that education that only in-person experience could give.
"You know, some children that come here have never seen the ocean before and they live in San Diego," Moore shared.
But right now, those trips for this week so far have been canceled, and no one is getting passed a locked gate.
"It really hurts my heart that these kids may not have the experience anymore you know due to the government shutdown," Moore expressed.
Car after car after car, people who want to go to the park are told by employees that the park is closed and they turn around.
"I didn't understand why they turned us around. I wasn't thinking about the government shutdown," said one person who wanted to go to the park.
"We were hoping to go up to the lighthouse, but obviously we just found out and it didn't even dawn on us it's because of the government shutdown," said another person who wanted to go to the park.
"Yes, we're disappointed, but we understand...We figured there's a chance," said another person who wanted to go to the park.
"All over the state and nearby states come during this time of year...so they get really disappointed when they turn around and they drove six hours to be here so," Moore remarked.
The webpage for the monument has a red banner at the top alerting visitors that some services that fall under national parks may be unavailable or limited.
An NBC affiliate in San Diego tried calling the official number, and there was a voice message saying, "Due to the current lapse in federal government appropriations, we are currently out of the office on furlough and unable to respond to your calls at this time."
"I enjoy my job here and so I want everybody else to enjoy this beautiful place, and I want our rangers to be working they are the most incredible hard working individuals and are just so dedicated to their jobs and so, they want to get back and really support the community and the visitors that really enjoy this beautiful place," Moore said.
