Lifeguards Back on the Job

Santa Cruz lifeguards rescued as many as six people this past weekend along Santa Cruz beaches. The survivors have more than just the lifeguards to be thankful for. Most of these lifeguards faced layoffs because of budget cuts to state parks. A local group, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, decided that this was unconscionable and decided to raise the money themselves to pay the lifeguards’ salaries for the last two months of the season. The total cost was just $60,000, but that meant that the 10 lifeguard towers could remain open.
The donation was a stopgap measure to keep local beaches safe this summer. For now, the County’s lifeguards are hoping that once the state budget is approved, there will be money to keep them on the job.
Watch more at Fox 35.