SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR (Most newspapers prefer letters to the editor with 250 words or less. However, you should check your local paper for specific word-count guidelines or requirements. The more localized and personalized the letter, the more likely it is to get printed. Please use this template as a guide, and feel free to add local information and “flavor!”) RE: “Title of budget-related article that appeared in paper, Date it was printed” Dear Editor, Last week, the Legislature’s Budget Conference Committee began meeting to develop a final state budget. Decisions in Sacramento are bound to have a significant impact on quality of life issues for our community: education, health care, environmental protections, and more. As we keep hearing, hundreds of issues are still being debated and lawmakers are predicting another long, hot Sacramento summer. But there is a simple, common-sense proposal that has emerged that should get the support of all Californians. A lawmaker from the Central Coast has proposed the State Park Access Pass to provide dedicated funding for our state parks. Yes, it requires all of us to pay a little - $10 a year. But this has a big benefit. In exchange for paying $10, we’d all get free day-use access to our state parks. Plus we’d finally be dedicating funding to fix problems in our state park system that are contributing to its slow demise. (Provide local example of why this is important, i.e. – Parks in the area were on the closure list/specific deferred maintenance needs in parks in your area/desire to keep parks wellmanaged for local economic activity/desire to keep parks well-maintained and operated for future generation, etc.…If it works, cite price of current day use fees for parks in your area, compared to the $10 annual fee) Given that earlier this year, 48 state parks were proposed to be closed altogether, it’s refreshing to see a proposal that does something positive to help our parks and give us all something in return. This is a proposal that is worthy of our community’s and our legislators’ (insert names, if appropriate) support. Sincerely, (Name) (Address) (E-mail/phone number)