Join Surfrider and help protect the ocean, waves and beaches for all people

Beach Access

SAN DIEGO UPDATE & ALERT:

SUPPORT BEACH PRESERVATION & EQUITABLE BEACH ACCESS

Dear Surfrider Champion,

In case you've been following our recent emails re: San Diego City Council items, we have an update - Monday's Coastal Resilience Master Plan hearing has been postponed. Details still emerging, but it'll likely be 1-2 months before this comes back to Council. 

Therefore, we're asking you to refocus efforts on supporting our outdoor equity partners for Tuesday's hearing item on nonprofit surf camp permitting.

Please read on to learn more and take action.

TAKE ACTION

OPPOSE UNFAIR HURDLES FOR NONPROFIT OUTDOOR EQUITY GROUPS & TRIBES

Ensure fair & equitable beach access for nonprofits & Tribes: 

• Submit a public comment to City Council (links below 👇)
• Attend Tuesday, July 29, 2pm at City Hall or via Zoom 👇

Why it matters: 

For years, local nonprofit outdoor equity groups have advocated to reduce bureaucratic barriers preventing them from safely bringing underserved youth to the ocean. This led to state legislation giving outdoor equity nonprofits and Tribes the right to run programs with 30 or less participants without city permission.

In San Diego, for-profit surf schools operate year-round, while nonprofits are limited to summer months only, maximum 20 days per year, at just 3 locations. This inequitable framework limits access for underserved communities who depend on these programs.

Despite state law guaranteeing fair access, the City wants to continue exclusionary practices citing unsubstantiated safety concerns. These nonprofits actually improve safety by teaching ocean skills to those who may not otherwise receive such support (check out this pamphlet from Outdoor Outreach). 

Everyone deserves ocean access. Please OPPOSE this action at City Council.

Submit via City Council Website (preferred)

Suggested talking points can be found on this Google Doc 

Or, Instantaneous Email Option  

Feel free to edit as you see fit. Don't forget to sign with your name! 

ATTEND THE MEETINGS IN-PERSON OR VIA ZOOM

• TUESDAY 7/29 2PM - OPPOSE ITEM #331, REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBLE NONPROFITS & TRIBES TO RUN PROGRAMS AT CITY BEACHES

  • In-person: you will need to fill out a speaker slip and give it to staff. It's Item #331, and we are opposing the staff's recommendation. If you can attend in-person and do not wish to speak, you can still help by ceding your time to another speaker

  • Zoom: simply "raise your hand" after staff presents the item and the public comment period begins. 

  • Zoom link: https://sandiego.gov/councilmtg 

  • Full agenda + item staff report 
  • Questions? Reply directly to this email. 
   

THANK YOU SO MUCH!