Tag: california

  • Reforming California’s Campsite Reservation System: Insights on Assembly Bill 618

    Reforming California’s Campsite Reservation System: Insights on Assembly Bill 618

    Image credit: Unsplash

    Securing a campsite reservation in a California state park or beach is akin to snagging a rare golden ticket. Many camping enthusiasts can attest to the frustrating experience of seeing available slots vanish mere moments after being made available.

    Enter Assembly Bill 618. Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, this legislative piece aims to rectify this issue. The bill’s essence is to deter individuals from monopolizing campsite reservations without genuine intentions of use and to punish late cancellations. 

    Spearheaded by assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan from Orinda, the bill’s objectives are clear: to streamline the campsite reservation process and eliminate the wastage of such precious resources. Beginning in 2024, the bill mandates specific restrictions and imposes monetary penalties on those disregarding these reservation guidelines.

    One standout feature of this bill is the experimental lottery-based reservation system. By 2025, a randomized draw will determine reservations for five highly-coveted camping locales, with this system slated to run until 2028. The exact parks benefiting from this trial remain undisclosed within the bill. However, the California Department of Parks and Recreation will take on deciding.

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    Bauer-Kahan underscores the necessity of this move. She emphasized the immense value and demand for California’s parks and beaches. The prevalent inefficient reservation system often leads to numerous unutilized campsites. This bill, she believes, will advocate for ethical reservation habits, ensuring wider accessibility to California’s treasured outdoor spaces.

    Statistically, California boasts around 280 state parks, which cumulatively offer upwards of 15,000 spots that encompass campsites, cabins, cottages, and yurts. About half of these parks operate on the ‘Reserve California platform – an online portal that enables users to reserve spots half a year in advance.

    AB 618 elaborates on its guidelines:

    1. Seasonal Cap: During the peak camping season, which spans Memorial Day and Labor Day, individuals can reserve a spot for a maximum of seven consecutive nights. Annually, any one person is restricted to a 30-day total.
    2. Penalties for Consistent No-Shows: Users who consecutively miss three reservations without prior intimation face a year-long ban from the state’s online reservation portal.
    3. Financial Consequences: There’s a cost to inaction or late decisions. If someone cancels between two to six days before their slated date, they lose the equivalent of one night’s charge. Worse still, canceling within a day or failing to show up means forfeiting the entire reservation amount.
    4. Reminders & Refund Timelines: Reservists receive two email reminders detailing the cancellation windows that qualify for a refund.
    5. Quick Turnaround for Canceled Reservations: In the event of cancellations, the bill mandates that the now-available slots be promptly listed online within three days, allowing others a shot at the reservation.

    Through Assembly Bill 618, California seeks a fairer and more efficient campsite reservation system. By curtailing opportunistic booking and promoting responsibility, the state hopes to ensure more nature enthusiasts can revel in its scenic parks and beaches.

  • Disney’s Cali Dream Town: A Real-Life Incredibles-Inspired Community Unfolds

    Disney’s Cali Dream Town: A Real-Life Incredibles-Inspired Community Unfolds

    Image credit: Unsplash

    Disney’s entertainment giant is back with a new venture outside the entertainment industry. Disney has unveiled new details about its upcoming Storyliving project in Riverside County, a master-planned community designed to showcase the company’s whimsy and wonder. A venture into real estate is a bold and revolutionary step by the entertainment giant. However, the project is an arena to diversify entertainment through different industry packages.

    One of the standout features of the development is the Parr House, a gathering space named after the mid-century style home of the superhero family in Disney and Pixar’s Incredibles 2. The Parr House will feature a main entertaining room, art studio, kitchen, dining room, boardroom, five bedrooms, and an elevated patio with views of the nearby mountains and the community’s grand oasis.

    Membership of the Artisan Club, which offers access to the Parr House and other features such as a designated beach area, will be available to Cotino residents and non-residents. Open to Cotino residents and non-residents, the club will provide members with Disney entertainment, events, and spaces inspired by Disney stories.

    Disney is building Cotino on 618 acres in Rancho Mirage, near where Walt Disney once owned a home. For the project, Disney is working with Arizona-based DMB Development, which specializes in planned communities. The project will ultimately include around 1,932 residential units, with sales expected to begin in 2023 and the first homes expected to be complete by 2024. Various home types, including estates, single-family homes, and condominiums, will be available. In addition, the project will dedicate at least one development section for residents aged 55 or older. The community will also include a professionally managed public beach park accessible to residents and visitors by purchasing a day pass.

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    Disney plans to inspire Cotino residents to pursue their interests, create new friendships, and write the next exciting chapter in their lives. The company has also stated that it’s exploring other locations for potential future projects, but Disney has not publicly announced the details.

    However, Disney faces pressure to rein costs, particularly in the increasingly crowded streaming arena, where it competes with rivals like Netflix and Amazon. As a result, the company’s CEO, Bob Iger, recently announced plans to cut 7,000 jobs to raise its finances and increase profits in its streaming business. People familiar with the matter have disclosed that the layoffs will affect roles in the units formerly known as Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution and Disney General Entertainment. This is in addition to corporate positions and jobs in the theme parks, experiences, and consumer products business.

    Disney’s venture into real estate development is a departure from its traditional focus on entertainment, but it could provide a new avenue for growth and profitability. The company has a loyal following of fans eager to experience the Disney brand in new ways, and the Storyliving project could capitalize on that enthusiasm. As Disney seeks to navigate the rapidly changing media landscape, it will be interesting to see how it continues to innovate and expand its business beyond its core offerings.