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The RBDA was founded in 1957 after a group of Dooners organized to successfully fight the creation of a trailer park near the corner of Martin and Pine Flat Roads. They realized they needed to have a formal organization to ward off unwanted development in Bonny Doon, including the subdivision of many areas into 1-acre parcels by a local realtor. In the years since, we’ve continued to actively advocate for Bonny Doon on many different issues. It’s time to renew your membership. Please support the RBDA…or join us if you’re not a member!

Our year in advocacy:

In 2025 the RBDA opposed the AT&T communications bill (AB 470), which would have discontinued the landline service that many in our community rely on to communicate during power outages. This bill was defeated. The RBDA also opposed the state Low Impact Camping Area (LICA) bill (AB518), which would allow unsupervised commercial camping on private rural properties. This bill passed. The law leaves the decision of whether or not to adopt a LICA ordinance up to individual counties, and Santa Cruz County currently has no such ordinance. Continued advocacy will be required to keep LICA’s out of Bonny Doon in the future.

The RBDA hosted four public meetings: Updates on the Rail Trail progress and the newly opened Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument, a great presentation by Gray Hayes (Birds of the North Coast) with many photos provided by our neighbors, a panel discussion on technologies available to improve crucial internet and cell service in Bonny Doon, and a fascinating talk by Chris Wilmers (Santa Cruz Puma Project) on mountain lions and their habitat.

We were also active on many other issues of concern to our Bonny Doon community such as the UCSC expansion, Cotoni-Coast Dairies, cell and internet communications, the new Rail Trail and much more.