Santa Cruz's iconic wharf suffered a catastrophic collapse, revealing a complex web of environmental regulations and the city's struggles to balance infrastructure repair with wildlife protections.
The city officials acknowledge that lengthy litigation by environmental activists and strict permitting requirements delayed essential repairs that could have fortified the wharf against storms.
Tony Elliott emphasized the challenges faced in maintaining the wharf, noting that with the work window being just six months of the year, effective upkeep is nearly impossible.
Environmental regulations mandated by the state Coastal Commission require construction to avoid nesting seasons, greatly limiting the timeline for repairs to the historical structure.
Collection
[
|
...
]