Bodega Bay Another Jersey Shores? Hopkins says yes

Will Bodega Bay be another Jersey Shores? Supervisors leaning towards approval for Jersey developer.

“Supervisor Lynda Hopkins advocated for eliminating parcel protections that have been in place for more than 40 years.”

EDITORIAL: PRESS DEMOCRAT 

Preserving the coast 

EDITOR: Ever wondered why the wild Sonoma coastline doesn’t resemble the Jersey Shore, with arcades, hotels and amusement parks boasting hundreds of rides and attractions?

Fifty-one years ago, Californians decided their coastline needed to be protected and organized activists statewide to create a coastal protection initiative for the 1972 statewide ballot. In 30 days, they gathered 480,000 signatures. Big business fought the measure, but Californians had seen enough developmental threats to the coast, and when Proposition 20 won voters forever changed how California judges shoreline development.

Unfortunately, our pristine coastline is once again at risk. At a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Lynda Hopkins advocated for eliminating parcel protections that have been in place for more than 40 years.

Crucial site specific policies are more protective than the usual permit process and are more critical than ever in the face of constantly increasing pressure from developers looking to cash in from Sonoma County’s treasured coastline.

The beauty of the California coast is an economic engine that drives a thriving tourist industry. We ask the Board of Supervisors to maintain the current coastal protections, knowing that voters want to keep our coast protected for the benefit of residents and tourists alike.

PADI SELWYN

If you haven’t emailed the Board yet to tell them to keep the protections of site specific parcels in tact, please do so!
Thanks!
Padi