PLAY MONEY… Last week we broke the story about Central Coast Assemblyman John Laird’s State Park Access Pass, a plan to fund state parks by charging a once-a-year vehicle registration surcharge of $10. In exchange, all California registered vehicles would get free day use of state parks and beaches. The fee is expected to raise about $282 million. On May 28, an Assembly budget subcommittee approved the proposal by a 4-1 vote. It now moves to the Budget Conference Committee, which is expected to begin in early June. If the committee signs off on Laird’s state park plan, the proposal will be included in the final budget negotiations among Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and two leaders from each chamber of the Legislature, and ultimately voted on by both chambers in the final budget bill, which requires a two-thirds’ approval vote. [JL]

FOAMING AT THE MOUTH… The anti-Styrofoam crusaders march on, encouraging local jurisdictions to adopt the waste management district’s model ordinance banning polystyrene take-out containers. Pacific Grove has already OK’d the ban; the Carmel-by-the-Sea City Council will consider it June 3; and the Monterey City Council has tentatively scheduled it for July 1. Staff for the county, Marina and Seaside are quietly examining the ordinance, while a growing number of local restaurants and institutions are voluntarily switching to biodegradable food packaging. Meanwhile, the Plastics Foodservice Packaging Group is rattling its Styrofoam saber– and making some dubious claims– in a shrill lobby against the ban. In one example, the group estimates a restaurant owner would have to pay $11,200 extra per year to replace 4,000 polystyrene cups with plastic-coated ones. The actual difference is $112. [KA]

DROWNING IN DEBT… When we reported on Central Avenue Bakery last October, the Pacific Grove hangout had been served a steep water bill increase for serving its (mostly organic, vegetarian) food on non-disposable dishware. The water pollution control agency later cut the bakery’s outstanding sewer fees in half, according to business co-owner Tina Thompson. But the high water bills, coupled with slower business, have driven the young bakery to near-bankruptcy, she says. Thompson expects Central Avenue to close its doors in about a month unless investors or a surge in revenue revive it. A June 6 concert featuring Jonah and the Whalewatchers will benefit the floundering café. [KA]