Dozens of county residents offered public comment at the June 8 Board of Supervisors meeting on the formation of a second Oceano Advisory Council (OAC) to be called Vitality Advisory Council of Oceano (VACO). It was approved.
Most VACO supporters sounded like this: “My name is, I support VACO, the current OAC doesn’t represent me nor my community.” No other reason given.
They were obviously staged. Many speakers openly said this issue is really about the recent California Coastal Commission’s decision, supported by the current OAC, to phase out off-roading on Oceano beach and dunes. They are right: Local off-roaders and businesses who cater only to off-roaders resent the decision and are trying to undo it. They think undermining the current OAC will help their cause.
Supervisor Gibson tried to stop it. He suggested forming a completely new, properly elected council. The current council is not an elected body. This is a great solution. Indeed, if Supervisor Compton were a better leader, she would have come up with it herself. She would have attended the current OAC’s meetings months ago and led it in the right direction. Instead, she ignored it while nursing the resentment of other residents. She claims she cannot interfere with the council’s bylaws or tell it how to run the council! False. Supervisors have the authority to make Oceano start a new, elected body. We think this is the best way to proceed.
Let all residents of Oceano elect a new council.
Oceano Beach Community Association
Lucia Casalinuovo, president
This article appears in Jun 17-24, 2021.