Pristine is an overused word when describing the environment. If you take the real meaning, in its original condition, unspoiled, pristine no longer exists when we speak of nature. But we try, we try to make things better along our coastline, and sometimes we ask for a little help from our local government. We humans in our busy lives of being human produce, reproduce, govern, are governed, destroy and create, and occasionally look around and appreciate all of those thing that preceded us in the wild. Call it God. Call it Divine Being. Call it Nature. Call it what you will but it is easier when you live on the edge of the ocean and look out to that seemingly limitless horizon.
Humbled is how I feel when I look over the bluffs near Oceana High School. Grateful too. I think most who live in the hamlet of Pacifica feel the same way. Some locals take a glimpse left as they head over the hill to their work in the valley or in the City, take in the beauty and the satisfaction and hope that it will be there when they come home. The lucky ones stay and work and breathe the sea air and even walk along the remote strands of sand before the sunsets. The other envious multitude who visit like myself appreciate it as they are ablem to sport in the surf, walk the bluffs or just enjoy the ambience that embodies this town.
All of us have something in common: we love this town and the ocean that gives it its name. We love to walk along that margin between land and sea and belong to both worlds, real and unreal, past and future, unnatural and natural. The ocean connects all of these things, and a healthy ocean gives us hope for our families, our community and for the future. Pacifica has more hope than most in California beacuse of the people who love it.
Find out what's happening in Pacificawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A very beautiful thing about Pacifica is the community. The community that rallies for restoration of San Pedro Creek and the watershed, the Earth Days, the beach and road way clean ups.
This community has organized itself into the Pacifica Beach Coalition. An amalgam of beach walkers, surfers, businesspeople and visitors, the PBC pitch in to make the beaches among the cleanest and friendliest in the entire San Francisco Bay area. The idyllic coves, the gentle waves and the undeveloped headlands are a result of love, education and hands on hard work by a group called the Pacifica Beach Coalition. This group of citizens and elected leaders have cleaned up tons of trash, and taught each young citizen that the ocean is part of their home and harmony.
Find out what's happening in Pacificawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
This is why we should write and thank the Pacifica City Council for continuing the small support they give to their community’s greatest feature: a seashore.
Today, one or two council members propose to cut the small support that helps continue the PBC efforts. This trimming will not balance the budget or restore youth lunch programs. This support, far less than the parking fees from Linda Mar Beach, sends a message that the Pacifica City Council does not support the decade of positive work under their own unpaid coalition. If the Council cuts this minor line item they are saying pristine, is like dinosaurs, destined to live in the dictionary. They might as well take the Beach off the Pacifica sign.
Community of Pacifica- we can do better.
We urge you to write the City Council members or show your support in person. Bring a piece of garbage you have retrieved form the shore, a happy child who loves this shoreline, an image of hope in the form of a dolphin, a shark a whale that lives along Pacifica because we love it and we know a healthy shore is a vibrant community.
This planet has many surprises, many wonders and surprisingly many people who appreciate them both. A few of those might even be our elected officials.
Please email the council members below for your support or attend and give a "me too" when local leaders urge your elected leadership to support the PBC.
When
Tuesday May 27th
Council Chambers
2212 Beach Blvd
Pacifica, CA 94044
City Council Meeting Agenda - number 8 . 7pm meeting starts
Or, write your council members and ask for City to be an Earth Day Partner. Tell them how important the ocean, community ocean events and all the cleanups are to Pacifica and to the visitors who come for the beaches and the love of the Pacific Ocean.
Mary Ann Nihart - Mayor - mnihart@pacbell.net
Karen Ervin - Mayor Pro Tem - - kervinpacifica@gmail.com
Sue Digre - suedigre@gmail.com
Len Stone lenstonepacifica@gmail.com
Mike O'Neill michael.j.oneill@sbcglobal.net
