Page 3 - Sonoma County Gazette - May 2019

Coastal Marathon Race
Charities: We were told that money from these races would go to charities. When asked about which charities, the representatives couldn’t name any but said they would know in three years.
On March 31st the Sonoma County Coast MAC (Municipal Advisory Council) met with approximately
80 people from Bodega Bay, Jenner, Occidental and Timber Cove at the Bodega Bay Grange. The meeting
Infrastructure and Traffic: A Bodega Bay resident said that she used to live in Gleason Beach but had to move because the infrastructure
was to inform residents about the coastal marathon that was to be held this year on Sunday, September 29th. Originally, Highway One was to
at that point of Highway One is so dangerous. For many years, houses have fallen into the sea. Residents of Bodega Bay spoke about the dense traffic in town and traveling north and south on the coast especially on weekends.
be closed from Fort Ross to Bodega Bay. Food trucks and portable toilets were to be stationed at the Jenner Headlands.
Because of public outcry, it was decided that the race would be a half marathon which would close one lane of Highway One and begin at Jenner and end in Bodega Bay.
Fishing Community and Businesses:
At the meeting many people
spoke vociferously against the race. Residents asked the race officials why the community wasn’t contacted first about this planned event.
Efren Carrillo, the former fifth district supervisor, and Tina Wallis, the attorney for this event, were supposed to attend this meeting but failed to show up.
Restaurants and businesses would have to close the day of the race. A fisherman said if the coast were closed for one day he wouldn’t be able to access his boat and might lose a lot of money. A charter boat captain said that September is the best month to take people out on the ocean because that’s when the sea is calmer.
For now the race is canceled due to lack of necessary permits. However, if this race is permitted next year, a precedent would be set for years to come.
Our Coast is Not for Sale
It was amazing to open the daily paper this morning again and
not find one bit of information on Carrillo & Co.’s proposed marathon for the Sonoma Coast. After two full articles by Mary Callahan touting the race and seemingly portraying the organizers as “victims” of draconian regulatory protocol, I would naturally assume that the PD would at least give space to the meeting on 3/31 where a bevy of speakers articulately examined and denounced this
LETTERS cont’d on page 4
The points that were covered were:
Fire: The Fire Chief of Bodega Bay told us that he’d station more fire fighters from other towns on Hwy One and position them along the race route in case a fire breaks out. A resident stated that if emergency vehicles wanted to get through, it would be difficult if not impossible.
Fragile ecosystem: Many spoke about the beauty & fragility of the coast where animals live along with endangered and rare plants. The coast would be negatively impacted by thousands of contestants & spectators.
Trash: Someone pointed out that
if the wind blew strongly as it does sometimes, trash could blow onto beaches and then into the ocean. Race organizers promised that trash would be removed immediately and only 1% would end up in a landfill. A woman said no one wanted any trash in a landfill.
Pamela Singer
Tourism: One representative for the marathon said she was excited
that the race would show off the beauty of the Sonoma Coast to visitors. A woman from Occidental said passionately that we already have too many tourists due to vineyards, tasting rooms and event centers and that soon we will have marijuana tourism. More tourism is not acceptable on the coast.
5/19 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 3