Flagstaff, Arizona (azfamily) – Some residents in northern Arizona say they are worried that federal layoffs from the public will hurt the tourism industry.
Hundreds of protesters took them to town outside Flagstaff city hall on Monday after thousands of federal workers from the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service were fired over the weekend.
That’s part of President Donald Trump’s plan to cut down the federal workforce.
Protesters say they don’t like the way this was handled and they are worried about the future.
Tourism is the economic engine of northern Arizona. Anything that negatively affects the Grand Canyon and other tourist attractions in the area can have a major impact on jobs and services.
Karen Malis-Clark worked for the U.S. Forest Service for more than 30 years. She is now retired, but she is still a volunteer at the Coconino National Forest.
“These agencies and their staff have all been truly part of this community since Flagstaff began,” Maris Clark said.
She said she knows 16 people who were let go over the weekend after they were previously placed on probation.
“Putting a lot of people who are unemployed in Flagstaff will have a detrimental effect on our community,” said Maris Clark.
About 500 people gathered at City Hall on Monday afternoon to protest the shooting.
Northern Arizona has seven national parks and several national forests. The Grand Canyon alone has donated about $1 billion to the northern Arizona economy. Maris Clark said it could all be affected.
“(It’s) going to be a decline in service for the American people,” she said. “Everything from the trail that’s not maintained to the campsites open.”
One of the main concerns we hear is fear about the upcoming fire season. Firefighters have not lost their jobs, but others have jobs.
“I’m thinking of my personal colleagues who have the job I do in logistics for now,” Jesse Duff Woodruff said in a protest. “She’s one of the people who ensures we get our tents, catering, like all the baseline logistics we need to fight wildfires.”
Duff-Woodruff and Joey Dahms work for the Forest Service in Northern Arizona.
They disagree with how the staff were let go. They say it’s almost a new staff member and has a ripple effect.
“What happens if we lose recreational staff from the Park Service or the Forest Service? Will we close the forests or will everyone ramp out and cause problems and damage resources? ” asked Derm.
Maris Clark said the public needs to continue speaking, and employees need to retain hope.
“Know that you’re supported and the work you do matters,” she said.
The Grand Canyon alone adds about $1 billion a year to its Northern Arizona community.
Protesters said they hope that union officials fight these layoffs and ask the public to call representatives of Congress to complain.
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