Lawmakers want Californians to have the chance to vote on a new measure they believe will save the Bay from future flooding.
On Friday, lawmakers and climate advocates on the peninsula proposed a vote to help protect people, homes and businesses near the water.
“All low-lying communities are at risk, but the effects of sea level rise will soon be felt by all Bay Area residents,” Assemblyman Damon Connolly said.
Specifically, they are pushing for a $16 billion climate resilience bond.
It covers many issues, including wildfire prevention and clean energy — but it will also fund some projects that the nonprofit Save the Bay says are urgently needed.
“Because of our budget deficit, we're really going to need some bond money to give us what we need to do these infrastructure improvements so that people can be protected and not be vulnerable to the sea level rise that's coming now,” said Assemblymember Dianne Babin.
They held this event on Friday with King Tides entering.
The bonds will allow for more work like what we saw two months ago when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service breached a barrier to unleash the growth of a new 300-acre tidal marsh.
Not only does it expand the ecosystem, but scientists say the marsh acts like a sponge and can retain water during high tide or flood. Therefore, it also acts as a natural protection.
“We're very concerned that over the last decade we've seen almost every climate record broken in California. In some cases, multiple times,” said Adrian Covert, senior vice president of public policy for the Bay Area Council.
Community advocates who live in East Palo Alto say these projects would ease residents' fears — and lower flood insurance rates.
“This is one of the most vulnerable neighborhoods in East Palo Alto, and if the water comes in this way [off the mountains from rain] “Then sea levels rise, and East Palo Alto becomes a bathtub,” said Violet Saina, founder of Climate Resilient Communities.
The bonds must pass through the Legislature before being placed on the November ballot.
Advocates say the need is urgent.
“The longer state and federal governments wait to help with those investments, the longer it will take and the more expensive it will be to provide these protections,” said David Lewis, executive director of Save the Bay.
