A Fee in the Door

We should all consider what has happened at Jalama Beach County Park and Refugio State Beach to see what the future holds for us if the county supes are allowed to charge beach access (they call it “parking”) fees

Once passed, fees will need no public hearing to be raised. They will start the fees out low to avoid controversy, but with no public review process the fees will be raised as county government sees fit. Many beach visitors are shocked when they get to Jalama and find that entry fees are $10.

Outside the parks, “No Parking” signs will go up as far as the eye can see. Parking enforcement and other traffic/parking issues will follow. Neighborhoods will be impacted. The list of negatives, including the moral issue of restricting beach access, is long and getting longer as we find getting to the beaches harder and harder to do.

You can find the schedule of public hearings on the Santa Barbara County Parks website.