Everybody knows what a NIMBY is: somebody against something in their backyard or neighborhood (“not in my backyard!”). Most of us seem to be NIMBYs when it comes to putting things (parking lots, trails, things that attract people) near our quiet or views. Most of us are also SEBYs: somebody for these things in somebody else’s backyard (because we like trails).

Planning for access to San Vicente Redwoods we heard from a lot of people in Bonny Doon who thought parking in Davenport was a great idea, and from people in Davenport who thought Bonny Doon was the perfect place for a parking lot. At one of our community meetings, the contrast was so stark it finally got a laugh.

Right now we’re hearing from a lot of people on Swanton Road who think the Coast Dairies trailhead should be on Cement Plant Road, and from people near Cement Plant Road who think Swanton Road would be better.

Our position is that this is BLM’s decision, not ours, and we encourage them to do what we did with San Vicente access: listen to everybody (you learn things!) and do your best to address the concerns behind their positions. The SEBYs usually outnumber the NIMBYs, but the NIMBYs are more passionate about it, because it is their backyard. Listen to all of them and remember we’re all NIMBYs and SEBYs at one time or another.