New group backs expansion of regional open space district New group backs expansion of regional open space district (January 28, 2004)

On January 12, a new group, the Coastal Open Space Alliance, announced it would support the coastal annexation to help protect the rural and agricultural heritage of the coast and develop opportunities for low-intensity recreation and trails.

Spokeswoman Zoe Kersteen-Tucker of Moss Beach argued that the it is vitally important to bring in an agency that can acquire, maintain, and manage open space and farm land on the mostly-unincorporated coast. "The coast can't protect itself," she said.

The new alliance includes the county-wide and Coastside environmental groups Committee for Green Foothills, Half Moon Bay Open Space Trust, Midcoast Park Lands, Peninsula Open Space Trust, Save Our Shores, Sierra Club, and Surfrider Foundation San Mateo County.

The alliance will be campaigning for the annexation throughout the Coastside. Members will staff tables at events, write letters to the editor in local papers, discuss issues with local groups, and support candidates. "It will be your basic get-out-the-information campaign," said Ms. Kersteen-Tucker. "We want to help people understand what the district is, and how it will be beneficial to Coastside residents."

Singer, songwriter and peace advocate Joan Baez of Woodside supported the annexation in a letter. "It's a miracle that the San Mateo coast hasn't suffered the fate of so many other national treasures around the world, which have been paved over by sprawling development," she wrote. "We need long term protection of its spectacular views, open space, and farm fields, to afford our children and grandchildren a place to breathe clean air and restore themselves in nature."
INFORMATION

For information on the Coastal Open Space Alliance, call 728-2823, or check CoastalOpenSpace.org.

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