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As Congress debates how to help state, county and local governments whose budgets have been devastated by coronavirus, we in the coastal and beach community need to speak up!
With many beach towns and departments funded through some type of tourism generated revenue – hotel and occupancy taxes, local sales taxes, beach badges, parking fees, etc. – our economic hit has been as hard as any communities’ in the country. And now, with most beaches re-opened, we are facing three concurrent challenges:
- Massive budget shortfalls and staffing cuts,
- Increased costs for anti-virus cleaning and security for social distancing, and
- Huge crowds of people eager to get outdoors and recreate.
We need to speak up and make sure Congress provides the necessary support to make sure beaches are healthy and safe in 2020 and beyond. YOU can be an effective advocate:
- Set up a phone call or zoom meeting with a decision-maker;
- Draft a letter to your members of Congress, or ask your Governor to demand support;
- Get a local or county resolution asking for federal support.
- Draft an OpEd or Letter to your local paper asking for support for your coastal community.
What are you asking for:
Key to any good advocacy meeting is being specific in your request. Here is what ASBPA is asking for to help coastal communities:
- Stimulus funding to state, county, and municipal budgets to offset lost revenue;
- Increased federal funding for programs specific to coastal communities:
- Coastal (Zone) Management Grants (CZM Grants);
- BEACH Act Grants;
- National Coastal Resilience Grants;
- Reducing or eliminating local cost-shares for federal projects on the coast.
Resources:
Here are some resources to help you make your case for local beach funding:
- What legislation in Congress will help beach and coastal communities.
- ASBPA’s letter to Congress requesting support coastal and beach communities (pdf, 267 KB).
- ASBPA OpEd on federal funds for beach operations and safety (can be use as template for local opeds)
- National Governors Association letter to Congress advocating for federal aid to state and local governments (endorsed by ASBPA).
- SC Beach Advocates’ Resolution asking the SC Governor to evaluate revitalization strategies that are specific to the state’s coastal communities’ tourism-based economies.
Who to talk to:
These are evolving lists of coastal staffers for coastal Members of Congress:
If your member isn’t listed, or a staffer is wrong, please contact Derek.Brockbank@asbpa.org
How to advocate:
It’s simple. Really. Even in the age of coronavirus, coastal staffers for Members of Congress are easy to get a hold of – they’re still on email and most are willing to take phone calls or zoom meetings.
- Tips on setting up a meeting with Member of Congress or their staff.
- Making the most of your meeting – powerpoint slides on how to approach a meeting.
If you’d like to see what else ASBPA is working on in 2020 you can review our 2020 Legislative & Federal affairs agenda.