SIGNS On April 16, we reported that the County DPW was working to install signs on Brighton Ave. and the downtown section of Olema-Bolinas Rd. for the first phase implementation of Measure X. Although slowed down by the need to place other signage in town related to Covid-19 access restrictions, just this week DPW erected signs on Brighton and Wharf. Phase I (there is a map on the BCCA website) only affects a portion of these streets, but it was a nice surprise that Wharf Rd. was included in Phase 1. The restriction is for no overnight parking except for autos, motorcycles and pickups.
In addition, we note that in the area surrounding Agate Beach there are signs that prohibit parking by anyone except residents. We are still advocating that this sign be placed downtown as well. The County Park has blocked off parking near the tennis courts, but people are parking on the adjacent streets, so we need those signs.
We are relieved to announce that the 6 porta-potties on Brighton that served as an advertisement to visit Bolinas are now gone! Quite a few community members and BCPUD objected to their deployment. Per Supervisor Rodoni, County Park bathrooms on Brighton are to be re-opened and staff will be instructed on cleaning and sanitizing the facilities. SHELTERING THE UNSHELTERED We are glad that the County is moving forward with Measure X implementation and some future parking restrictions however, during this pandemic, overnight parking and all parking should be restricted to residents. We continue to advocate that campers who have no shelter except their vehicles should be offered a safe and sanitary area to park in proximity to local services and support. Leaving them to camp on downtown streets during this health crisis only gives license to a larger number of casual, non-local recreational campers to do the same. And people of all backgrounds still continue to filter in not only to gain access to the beach but also to camp downtown.
The County is aware of this situation. A couple of us had a recent telephone conference with Supervisor Rodoni about the situation but he said that Marin Public Health is tied up with more urgent priorities at this time. The Sheriff will not act without direction to move people off the streets and he needs a place that they can go if they have no shelter. The County is providing the kind of services we need here, (parking, hotel stays, etc.) at great cost in East County. As has always been the case, people in Bolinas who need these services will not go to East County. For some, this is their home.
While we don’t have very many County services here, people living on the streets benefit greatly from the generosity and kindness of our community. The remarkable Covid-19 testing experiment in our town demonstrated the community’s ability to come together to take on hard tasks. Great news that all those tested, nearly all of the town, were free of this virus! This experience gives us hope that we can figure out how to make the downtown area more livable for the community, and to include those who have no home, yet are a part of Bolinas. We cannot move forward without confronting this reality.
SHOWERS As many of you know, Sam’s House provided showers on a limited basis as part of their residential program, but this service is no longer available. A member of the community concerned about the lack of showers for those without homes has been trying to raise funds to build them. The original plan that was floated to the Mesa Park Board (see April 20 Hearsay, page 6) was to build showers onto the bathrooms in the downtown park on Wharf Rd. The location for this idea is a non-starter with a large number of neighbors. Supervisor Rodoni has said that there is funding for the building of showers in West County, if the community can agree on a site and program. There are no County funds however, for ongoing maintenance. Several BCCA members are in the process of pulling together a group of stakeholders to see how this need can be addressed.
East County has a mobile shower (marinmobilecare.org) but we have been told this mobile shower cannot come to West County for a number of reasons. We will investigate this or a similar option and keep you posted.
Stay well, everyone!
The BCCA Steering Committee
May 5, 2020
Addressing Measure X Sign Posting,Sheltering the Unsheltered, and Community Showers in the
