Oceanside’s beaches are not just a shoreline — they are our lifeblood. According to the latest report The Case for Coastal Resilience Investment – Quantifying Oceanside Beach as an Economic Asset, our beaches generate $2.5 billion in visitor spending and over $84 million in annual tax revenue that funds our police, fire, streets, and parks.
Since 1985, we have lost 140 feet of beach width. This is no longer just an environmental issue; it is a fiscal crisis.
A mere 10% decline in visitation due to beach erosion risks:
$250 million in annual economic losses.
Significant reductions in tax revenue for essential city services.
$25–$46 million in public infrastructure exposure.
OUR COMMUNITY IDENTITY IS DISAPPEARING
This is not just an economic argument. The beach is where Oceanside gathers. It is where families relax and play, where high school students hang out, where amateurs and pros surf, where veterans walk at sunrise, where lowriders show off their cars, where surf contests and community events bring residents together. It is where visitors first experience our City — and where many decide to stay, invest, open businesses, or make Oceanside home.
The beach is our shared front yard — inclusive, accessible, and woven into daily life across income levels and neighborhoods. It supports mental health, recreation, local identity, and quality of life in ways that cannot be measured solely in tax receipts.
WE ARE ONE CITY — ONE BEACH!
OUR COLLECTIVE REQUEST
We are calling on the City Council to recognize that beach restoration is not a luxury project or “optional beautification.” It is revenue protection infrastructure. We ask the Council to:
Prioritize Beach Restoration: Formally name beach restoration the #1 capital improvement project for the 2026–2027 fiscal year and beyond.
Commit to Long-Term Funding: Establish a protected funding framework and strategy to ensure we fund continuing coastal projects and coastal management.
Lead the Charge: Aggressively pursue all available federal and regional partnerships to secure funding for our coastal projects.
HOW YOU CAN HELP TODAY:
1. Email the Mayor and City Council: Click the link to send a clear message: “Make beach restoration the #1 capital priority in the 2026-2027 budget.”
Click here to send a prewritten letter to Oceanside City Council urging they fund Oceanside beaches!
2. Attend the CIP Workshop: Show up in person and sign up to speak. Public comment is the most effective way to ensure our priorities become policy.”
3. Spread the Word: Share this Call To Action and the report below, The Case for Coastal Resilience Investment – Quantifying Oceanside Beach as an Economic Asset, with local business owners and neighbors.
WE ARE ONE CITY — ONE BEACH! Our beach is the heart of Oceanside and we must protect it first. Every other city project depends on the revenue our shoreline sustains.
PROTECT IT. FUND IT. PRIORITIZE IT.
