CHUMASH CLAIM MORRO BAY: MORE 'PROTECTED' LAND, LESS TAXABLE PROPERTY!

KSBY News, ever the intrepid chronicler of local happenings, reported this week on the latest land-grab, disguised as an 'environmental protection' effort, near Morro Bay. The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians (SYBCI) — bless their litigious hearts — have petitioned for a new Marine Protected Area (MPA) stretching from Morro Rock all the way to the dog beach. Because, naturally, the ocean isn't 'protected' enough from pesky fishermen and their hooks of economic activity. Our esteemed county supervisors, no doubt eager to prove their 'wokeness' and avoid any perceived insensitivity, are already polishing their rubber stamps.

One has to wonder if the Chumash 'petition' comes with a silent, unspoken expectation for the usual sweetheart deals and tax exemptions that often accompany these sorts of 'conservation' endeavors. After all, if fishing is restricted, what's next? Limited access for regular Joes? A private preserve for… reasons? It’s almost as if carving out these 'protected' zones always leads to less public access and more bureaucratic red tape, all while reducing the local tax base. But don't worry, the fish will be very, very safe from those who want to, you know, catch them.

This isn't about saving a single sardine; it's about control. Control over local resources, control over small businesses, and control over where you can legally drop a line. The green lobby, always eager for another excuse to hamstring industry and individual freedom, is probably already populating their mailing lists with urgent calls to 'save the Morro Bay seabed.' Meanwhile, local fishermen and charter boat operators will just have to figure out how to pay their mortgages while watching their livelihoods slowly evaporate, all under the guise of an MPA.

The real angle KSBY missed? Follow the money. How many of these 'environmental' initiatives just happen to coincide with land or resource claims that conveniently sideline local competition? It’s a classic move: declare it 'protected,' then decide who gets to 'protect' it, and thus, who gets to profit from it. This MPA isn't about fish; it's about setting up the next big opportunity to 'manage' something that was doing just fine before the 'protectors' arrived.