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Surfrider's South Texas Chapter: "Keep Texas Beaches Open -- Vote For Prop 9"
October 12, 2009
ACTION ALERT
What is a Surfer's most essential need in getting to and from the resource that they so crave? I'll save you some time and answer that question for you. It is access to the beaches and headlands that border the waves that we so desire to ride.
For 50 years, Texans have enjoyed what is called the Open Beaches Act which states that Texans shall have the free and unrestricted right of ingress and egress to and from the state-owned beaches of Texas which is the beach between the mean low-water line and the Line of Vegetation. This is quite possibly the most progressive beach access policy in the entire United States. There are no privately owned beaches in Texas.
Sadly the issue of public access along the Texas coast has become more complicated in recent years as opposed to when the law was first ratified back in 1959. Due to population growth, rapid economic development, hurricanes, passive and active erosion and changes in the line of vegetation that defines the public beach easement, the Open Beaches Act is under constant assault almost without exception every two years when the State Legislature convenes and through lawsuits challenging the law.
On November 3, 2009 Texans will have an unbelievably unique opportunity to protect their public access and use of the beaches in Texas by voting on proposed constitutional amendment Number 9. It reads, "The constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico." Simply put, it will make access to and the use of Texas Beaches, a constitutionally protected right under the State Constitution. Furthermore, it will take the issue of public beach access away from Legislators that may be influenced by campaign contributors, special interests or their own personal agendas and place it where it belongs, in the hands of the voters.
Obviously, this is very important to a larger group of Texans and visitors than just surfers. This matters to fishermen, birders, swimmers, families, shell collectors and even the odd treasure hunter but it goes beyond that. The passage of Proposition 9 has the potential to set a precedent for the protection of public beach access and that every coastal state in the United States can strive to draft and implement.
The four Texas Chapters of the Surfrider Foundation are asking everyone out there to help and support the passage of proposition 9. Go to www.votefortexasbeaches.com and learn more, download a poster or flier and post it around your neighborhood, college campus or work. If you are not from Texas or are not a Texas Voter but have friends and family that are, let them know, ask them to vote and spread the word.
On November, 3, 2009 vote to keep Texas Beaches open! Vote for Proposition 9. Who knows? Maybe the passage of this amendment in Texas will bring you one step closer to having your own beach access constitutionally protected in your state!
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