THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HAS SHUTTERED PINNACLES NATIONAL PARK, LEAVING ONLY A SKELETON CREW TO MANAGE THE LAND. SOLEDAD, ALSO KNOWN AS THE “GATEWAY TO THE PINNACLES”, RELIES ON TOURISM FROM THE PARK TO BOOST ITS ECONOMY. SOLEDAD MAYOR FRED LEDESMA WANTS THE PARTIES IN WASHINGTON TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT QUICKLY. HE SAYS THAT THE LONGER THE BUDGET CRISIS LINGERS, LOCAL BUSINESSES WILL BE IMPACTED MORE DEEPLY BY THE CLOSURE.
