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Del Norte County authorizes letter supporting Coastal Act farmworker-housing legislation amid H-2A debate
Summary
The board authorized the chair to sign a letter supporting proposed Coastal Act legislation concerning farmworker housing; discussion acknowledged county support but noted objections from the United Farm Workers unless H-2A visa labor was excluded from eligibility provisions.
The Board of Supervisors voted to authorize the chair to sign a letter supporting proposed Coastal Act legislation brought forward by Marin County that would address farmworker housing in coastal agricultural areas.
Supervisor Howard introduced the item, providing background that most coastal counties had supported draft language but that the United Farm Workers had expressed opposition unless the bill explicitly excluded H-2A visa labor from eligibility for certain housing provisions. Howard and other supervisors discussed H-2A’s importance to local agriculture and the political challenges of securing a sponsor for the language in the state legislature. Staff and supervisors described the draft as intended to close a policy loophole the California Coastal Commission has previously advocated addressing.
A supervisor who participated in recent advocacy trips to Washington, D.C., urged that local communication with state representatives remains valuable even if the bill’s path in the Legislature is uncertain. After brief discussion and no public opposition recorded on the item, the board moved, seconded and approved authorization for the chair to send the letter of support.
The board did not amend the draft language at the meeting; supervisors noted they would continue to monitor negotiations at the state level and the concerns raised by labor representatives.
