I often say that I love California the way only someone from New Jersey can love California—partly because I grew up spending summers at the Jersey shore. I forgive you if you’re smirking, but please forget the television show. Yes, much of the shore is heavily commercialized, but New Jersey has some very beautiful beaches, and like many Jerseyans, I fell in love with the ocean at a young age.
As you might imagine, as soon as I laid eyes on the pristine beaches of California, which happened along the stretch of Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz, I was smitten. And here’s the thing: When I was growing up, many of the most beautiful beaches in New Jersey were private and off-limits. That remained true until four years ago, when Gov. Phil Murphy, invoking the Public Trust Doctrine codified by the Roman Emperor Justinian around 500 CE, signed legislation ensuring that the public has access to New Jersey’s shorelines and tidal waters.
If as a Californian, the idea of a private beach appalls you, I want you to consider that the public beach did not happen by accident. The notion of a private beach is unfathomable here because in California, with enough effort, the government can often be made to work for the people. As you will see in Jon Vankin’s article below, it was citizen activism that created the California Coastal Commission, which has worked to ensure that all California beaches are open to the public—and that the California coast does not look like the Jersey shore.
And: What happens when a big clean-energy plan challenges our notions of a pristine coastline? We shall see.
It’s that time of year again. Halloween is quickly approaching, which means now is the time to support local pumpkin patches in the Davis area.
(10/24/2023) → Read the full Davis Enterprise report
As part of the city’s effort to enhance infrastructure in underserved areas, Sacramento announced the completion of the South Sacramento River Parkway Trail West, which connects Meadowview to the soon-to-be-finished Del Rio Trail.
(10/20/2023) CapPublicRadio
California has long had the strongest defensible space rules in the country. Now, it's drafting rules that would make it the first state to limit the vegetation directly next to buildings.
(10/20/2023) CapPublicRadio
Multiple plans for Paseo Park have been left abandoned, with the city council and Winters residents wanting it to be much more than what it currently is.
(10/19/2023) Winters Express
California biologists have long wondered: How many mountain lions live in the state? New research offers an answer.
(10/19/2023) CapPublicRadio
After idling half the state’s normal rice acreage last year due to water shortages, farmers of the grain are back in full force in the Sacramento Valley.
(10/19/2023) Daily Democrat
Students share their thoughts on the change in ranking.
(10/19/2023) The California Aggie
In honor of “Extra Mile Day” on Nov. 1, a day meant to recognize people fueling positive change in the community, the Woodland City Council recognized Bridge’s accomplishments through a mayoral proclamation.
(10/19/2023) Daily Democrat
Linda Deos has announced her candidacy to run for Davis City Council in District 2, representing much of Davis north of Covell, and in between Oak and CA-113.
(10/18/2023) Davis Vanguard
More than 40 states are suing the social media giant. The legal actions allege that Meta has deceived the public about the harms of Facebook and Instagram, which the attorneys general say “exploit and manipulate” children.
(10/24/2023) CapPublicRadio
In partnership with the Marshall Project, Grist publishes an illustrated story about how decades-old decisions to build two California prisons in a dry lakebed left 8,000 incarcerated people at risk when Tulare Lake flooded.
(10/24/2023) Grist
The report, published in the journal Nature Climate Communications, is a warning that one of the worst sea-level rise scenarios scientists have cautioned about since the 1970s is most likely in progress and that little can be done to stop it.
(10/23/2023) → Read the full report
Written by Center for Biological Diversity scientist Tiffany Yap and illustrated by artist Meital Smith, “Tales of the Urban Wild: A Puma’s Journey” takes the reader through diverse habitats, across busy freeways and inside science labs to learn about one mountain lion’s survival story.
(10/20/2023) YubaNet
After years of planning a broadband system to bridge California’s digital divide, officials deprioritized some low-income areas due to unexpected costs. Gov. Gavin Newsom says he’s committed to funding the entire network, but advocates are skeptical.
(10/18/2023) CalMatters
Tiny homes are increasingly California cities’ shelter option of choice — but how far they go in solving homelessness is a contentious question.
(10/18/2023) CalMatters
