The promise of the California Coastal Act—to maintain public access to the Pacific Coast—is challenged by the extreme costs of coastal property. A new plan aims to put vacations and overnight stays on the coast in reach for more Californians.
Jill Replogle reports on the "Explore the Coast Overnight" plan, released recently in its first draft assessment by the California State Coastal Conservancy. The plan is designed to make it more affordable for Californians to access the coast for overnight stays.
The draft assessment analyses "the state of lower-cost lodging along the coast, and [plots] out a path for expanding it and breaking down the barriers that keep lower-income households and communities of color from using it.
As noted by Replogle, this approach to upholding the promises of the California Coastal Act differs from the familiar stories about litigation and discretionary hearings about maintaining coastal access with hiking trails, parking, and open gates. Questions of affordability are much less frequently made public, and with unfortunate consequences. A "survey commissioned by the Coastal Conservancy found that young people, people of color, lower-income households and families with children are less likely to stay overnight at the beach," according to Replogle.
The article includes a lot of information about how to access the beach on a budget right now, thanks to the information gathered in the new draft assessment.
FULL STORY: You, Cash-Strapped Californian, Are Entitled To A Beach Vacation. Here's How That Could Happen
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
Opinion: To Increase Equity, Make Buses Free
With buses as a dominant transport mode for low-income households and "essential workers," free fares would increase access to economic opportunities and free up limited income for cash-strapped commuters.
Richmond Bus Redesign Faces Equity Complaints
Residents charge the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) with making service worse for low income residents.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
Mamdani overhauls NYC's Vision Zero plan with 100 new policy goals
The overhaul aims to reduce traffic deaths and make streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers through lower speed limits, new safety infrastructure and more.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association