California’s coastline is like a 1,100 mile-long shared front yard. Our state constitution and Coastal Act protect public access and aim to keep the shore free of fences.
But for our clients in Stockton, and working class people across California, there are economic barriers to visiting the beach that are every bit as formidable as chain link.
We know that fresh air, physical activity, and family time make people healthier and happier. Connecting people to nature is central to our work at Fathers & Families of San Joaquin. That’s why we were proud to open our first community garden in Stockton this spring. But, in the heat of summer, nothing sounds better than sea breezes.
Unfortunately, the price of gas, parking, and lodging makes it hard for many San Joaquin Valley residents to enjoy the coast. A trip to Santa Cruz or Pismo Beach means hours in the car, and limited options for an affordable overnight stay. We recently held a staff retreat in the Monterey area, and it was very difficult to find a motel that fit our nonprofit budget.
Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher understands this problem and has introduced a bill to help address it. AB 250 would create more coastal cabin hostels and cottages along the coast through a new program at the State Coastal Conservancy. We applaud her leadership in addressing a growing environmental justice issue.
A recent UCLA study found that 62 percent of Californians say that coastal access is a problem, and cost topped the list of barriers. With people coming from all over the world to enjoy our beaches, the cost and competition for lodging is rising. A November 2016 study by the California Coastal Commission found that the number of economy hotel rooms is dwindling while more expensive ones proliferate. AB 250 proposes three solutions to this problem.
The first is to build more cabins and other lower cost accommodations in state and local parks, which already have a mission to provide public access and recreational opportunities. This should be an easy win. Cabins are a great entry-level outdoor option: they don’t require much gear – just a sleeping bag or blankets and a pillow – and they let people close and lock a door.
The second solution is for the Coastal Conservancy to work with groups that are dedicated to providing more outdoor access—especially for young people who don’t often get to experience the outdoors—to establish and improve cabin camps, hostels, cottages and bunkhouses. AB 250 authorizes the Coastal Conservancy to identify suitable lands, owned by nonprofit organizations, and potential sources of philanthropic funding for support of new projects.
The third solution is to work with the private sector, which will likely always provide the most lodging along the coast. This will be tough but a worthwhile challenge.
AB 250 doesn’t propose a major new program, which could be costly. Instead, it authorizes the Coastal Conservancy to research and pilot options with private sector partners on a voluntary basis to learn what might work at larger scales.
California’s coastline should be a commons where people from all backgrounds come together. But making good on California’s promise of coastal access for all will require state leadership. We thank Gonzalez-Fletcher for her work to ensure all Californians have a chance to wake up to the sound of crashing waves and the smell of salt air.
Sammy Nunez is executive director of Fathers & Families of San Joaquin, which promotes the cultural, spiritual, economic and social renewal of vulnerable families in the San Joaquin Valley. He wrote this for The Mercury News.
