Published: August, 2009
Last month’s feature story about California’s budget crisis raised an obvious question in my mind about Angel Island. Allegedly $200,000 short of annual operating funds, the park is being threatened with closure and federal takeover.
My view is that an answer stares us directly in the eyes. Forty-eight boat slips at the park are empty every night, all year long, for reasons that are obscure to me. Angel Island closes down at 5 p.m., and will not allow overnight boats to dock at one of the prime boat destinations of the world. Boats are currently only allowed to tie onto buoys in Ayala Cove for $20 a night ($15 off-season).
If the slips were publicized to the local and international boating world, it is highly likely that all 48 slips could be filled at least every single weekend night all year long. If the slips were offered at even the $20 a night currently charged for buoys, this would produce about $100,000 of the park’s needed operating budget. Provide food and other basic supplies to the boaters, and the park would surely make a profit instead of face closure.
What are the naysayers’ arguments against such a policy? My best guesses: The boaters will foul the water. Who will man the food and other supply outlets? The idea will attract thugs and drug addicts. People will be hurt in accidents. Somebody might drink some wine in their boats with their meals. Someone might make love in the boats at night. Where would they go to the bathroom?
The complaints that might be raised are legion. But as a matter of fact, the historical complaints that San Francisco land residents have made against promoting boating are the stuff of legends. And their complaints are mostly the stuff of negative imaginations. In Europe, boats visit from around the world and help fill the coffers of local governments and businesses. In San Francisco, boaters are often vilified by land-lubbers who know precious little about modern boating.
Most of the arguments against opening the island to boaters have easy answers: Boaters are generally well-to-do people financially. Modern boats have excellent toilets and waste containment systems. Maintaining watch over docking boats for the prevention of waste would be child’s play. Why should families and individuals not be able to dock at Angel Island nights? Why should the docks and buoys not be available seven nights a week? Boaters are intelligent people, and well-conceived rules well-enforced would remove the complaints. If the park rangers don’t want to man the docks and food and other supply stores, a thousand American entrepreneurs in need of jobs and income would be glad to do the work.
Too long has San Francisco offered feeble excuses for not exploring the economic potential of establishing itself as a prime international private boat destination. Angel Island could reap the economic benefit within days simply by making a major shift in its archaic thinking on the subject. The docks now simply go to waste at night. Such a plan would find immediate support from some of the most respectful, established citizens of the Bay Area. Dozens of businesses could benefit from their support of the boaters who would take advantage of such a beneficial service.
Would there be political and other debate involved? I am sure many would come forth for and against the idea. But, such debate is the basis of our democracy, right? Our economy is presently buried under the ills of giant corporations, while many local, common-sense solutions go unexplored and are often blocked by a variety of interests. It is illogical that our system has heretofore blocked such simple solutions to financial shortfalls.
Would anybody else like to participate in trying to bring this specific idea to the marketplace of ideas? I’d bet money that thousands of economically healthy Bay Area boaters—who are stalwart members of our society—are ready to help. If you’re ready to come on board and help, drop me an email at the address below! Will we meet some resistance? Probably. Is it a battle worth fighting? We’re ready to lose control of Angel Island and other local parks to the federal government or see them simply closed. If that’s not worth fighting for, what is?
Howell Hurst
howell@hhnewbusiness.com
