By Matt Weiser, Sacramento Bee

The defeat of Proposition 21 on Nov. 2 means California State Parks will continue to experience partial closures, reduced maintenance and dwindling ranger patrols.

The measure failed by a 16-point margin, a spread that surprised many park advocates. It would have imposed a mandatory $18 annual vehicle license fee while giving vehicle owners free day use at all 278 state parks.

Only 10 of California’s 52 counties leaned in favor of the measure. Just two were outside the San Francisco Bay Area: Yolo and Alpine.

Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the California State Parks Foundation, chief sponsor of the measure, held out hope that parks funding might improve with a new governor in office next year.

“We’re going to have to regroup, no question about that,” she said. “This park system didn’t get any less important because of the vote (last week).”

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