After Housing, California Lawmakers Eye Parks And Water Bond

Besides an affordable housing deal, some California lawmakers also want a bond to fund billions of dollars in new parks and water projects.

What will go into the final package is still being negotiated, but Governor Jerry Brown has signaled he wants it to be no more than $4 billion. That’s about half the size of a couple of ballot initiatives put forward by outside groups.

Asm. Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) has authored the Assembly’s parks and water bond proposal. At a rally outside the Capitol Wednesday he stressed the need to build more parks in impoverished areas.

“We also know that parks are important for communities and families of lower incomes, because it’s really a place where they can afford to congregate and have a pleasant afternoon with their families and friends at a very low cost,” Garcia said.

Garcia’s bill could soon merge with one from Senate leader Kevin de León, who said he hopes it’s enough for competing measures to back off.

"We don’t want several ballot initiatives working at odds with each other, confusing the voters,” de León said.

Any deal lawmakers reach would require voter approval next year.