NAACP Backs Proposal to Turn Michael Jackson's Former Home, Neverland, into a State Park

NAACP backs proposal to make Michael Jackson's former home, Neverland, a state park, despite California financial woes, including $19 billion budget shortfall.

The NAACP has thrown its hat in the ring in another controversy of sorts. After holding the nation siege last week when it passed a resolution calling for the Tea Party to apologize for the racist elements in its midst, it is now supporting California Assemblyman Mike Davis' proposal to turn the former home of the late Michael Jackson, Neverland, into a state park.

Assemblyman Mike Davis said this week that California NAACP president Alice Huffman and others approached him with the idea of the state Department of Parks and Recreation taking over the Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County. The Los Angeles legislator said the idea is worth studying and that fans from around the world would visit Michael Jackson's former estate.

Huffman, who also serves on the state Parks Commission, told the Sacramento Bee that she thinks the idea could be a huge success. "I think Michael's history is world history and I think it would become the No. 1 attraction for the state parks if we could pull it off," he told the newspaper.

Lost on Ms. Huffman, who recently sparked controversy over her call for the legalization of marijuana on the basis of civil rights, is the fact that California has a $19 billion budget deficit. Just last year, Governor Arnold Schwarznegger proposed closing 220 of the state's 279 parks to save money, though he later changed his tune after he and lawmakers agreed to cut costs by reducing hours of operations at some parks, as well as reducing services. So, how would the state fund another park? Sourc: Fox News

Some will make the argument that Michael Jackson was accused of molesting a child, but my opposition to this is mainly from a cost perspective. I won't take away the fact that Michael Jackson gave the world the best music it has heard in decades, but to make his former home a state park is not a prudent move.It will cost far too much money to maintain and the taxpayers of California don't deserve to foot another bill, especially one of this magnitude.  After the mess with the molestation allegations, he left that home and never returned to live. Further proof that he wanted to distance himself from a place that would be a stark reminder of a dark period in his life. Let the family or his estate purchase the home and make it into an attraction like Elvis Presley's Graceland.