You almost certainly know this scene from “Casablanca” even if you haven’t seen the classic film: Claude Rains, playing the local police chief, proclaims “I’m shocked — shocked — to find that gambling is going on in here,” while simultaneously pocketing his winnings.
Sonoma County may have had a “Casablanca” moment of its own with beach fees.
Rains, of course, redeems himself before the credits roll. That’s Hollywood.
Beach fees are politics, so happy endings aren’t assured. But county officials appear to be on a path toward a satisfactory conclusion.
For anyone who arrived late, the county is contesting state plans to institute parking fees at its beaches along the Sonoma Coast.
Motorists would pay $3 an hour or $8 a day to park at Bodega Head, Goat Rock and several other beaches managed by the state Department of Parks and Recreation. Parking costs as much as $15 a day at state beaches elsewhere in California, but it’s free at most locations in Sonoma Coast State Park, which stretches 17 miles from Bodega Head to Vista Trail north of Jenner.
No spoiler alert is needed here: The prospect of paying for something that’s always been free isn’t very popular with beachgoers. And that’s not lost on their elected representatives. Read more