The Press Enterprise

New boss drops in on California Conservation Corps workers in Riverside

By Sandra Stokley

August 15, 2007 

RIVERSIDE - Newly appointed California Conservation Corps director David Muraki got up close and personal Wednesday with a 16-member Inland crew cleaning up a hiking trail at Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park.

Muraki, 55, was appointed in May to head up the state agency that hires young men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 to work on natural resource and environmental projects and emergency response.

He took office June 21. 

Members of a California Conservation Corps crew clear a trail at Riverside's Sycamore Canyon Park on Wednesday. Newly appointed director David Muraki said despite budget battles in Sacramento, workers remain committed to the ideals set out by the agency's founders: "to learn the value of a day's work for a day's wages."

On Monday, the new director embarked on a four-week, statewide tour of corps projects.
He has visited Camarillo and San Diego and planned to spend Wednesday at the Inland Empire Center meeting with supervisors.

He also chatted with the corps members, who hailed from Riverside, Redlands, San Bernardino, Rialto and other Inland communities.

"I'm trying to develop ideas for strengthening our services to the community," Muraki said.
Muraki said he's been impressed by what he has seen so far on his tour.

Although the corps has taken some hits during the state's budget battles, Muraki said workers remain committed to the ideals set out by the agency's founders: "to learn the value of a day's work for a day's wages."

"The staff has been moved around and some of our facilities need repair, but the hard work is still getting done," he said.

On Wednesday morning, Muraki appeared engrossed as San Bernardino resident Carlos Zuñiga took a break from his trail work to talk about his experience in the corps.
Zuñiga, 20, said he was a high school dropout when he joined the corps nearly a year ago "because I needed direction in my life."

Since then, he has earned his diploma, working a regular 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. shift and then attending classes in the evening.

Although Zuñiga earns minimum wage, he has an apartment, a car and a savings account.
"You don't get paid a lot of money, so you have to learn money management," he said.
After his year of service is up, Zuñiga will be eligible for state and federal scholarships.
He said he plans to attend San Bernardino Valley College and then Cal State San Bernardino to study to be an X-ray technician.

Zuñiga said he also has a sense of worth because of the community projects the corps works on.

"It makes me feel good that we're out here clearing the trail so people can enjoy it," he said.

Supervisor Elizabeth Burthe said that in addition to working at Sycamore Canyon, her 16-member crew has dug irrigation trenches and removed fire-damaged wood at Castle View Park, and cleared dead wood at Fairmount Park.

On Tuesday, the crew spent the day planting trees in 110-degree heat in Coachella Valley.
Although the pay is low and the work is hard, Muraki said the 1,300 slots statewide are all filled and there is a waiting list to join.

"Some people join for an adventure. Others want to do more than sit around and watch television," Muraki said.

"There are a variety of reasons."

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