Congressman Sam Liccardo seeks federal aid for Pacifica Pier repairs

PACIFICA, Calif. (KGO) -- Crews are working to stabilize the Pacifica Pier after a major crack forced its closure and raised concerns that part of the structure could collapse into the ocean.

The immediate priority, officials said Monday, is to secure the pier and prevent further damage. Workers are placing about 150 large boulders along both sides of the pier during low tide as part of those efforts. Only after that work is complete can engineers assess long-term repair options.

"We need to save this pier. We need to do all we can do to protect Pacifica and this coastside," said Congressman Sam Liccardo.

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Rapidly spreading cracks led to the pier's closure on June 4 and prompted the demolition of the Chit Chat Cafe, a longtime business on the structure. For some, the loss has already had a significant impact.

"Waking up one morning and being told much of your livelihood is about to be erased is not an experience I'd recommend," said Ginger Davis.

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Officials say any long-term solution will require significant funding and coordination with federal agencies.

"They need resources and they need flexibility," Liccardo said.

A 2021 estimate put repair costs at $21 million, but city leaders say that figure has since increased. City Manager Sean Charpentier noted the challenge of covering such costs locally.

"To put that into perspective we are a full service city and we currently generate 18 million a year for property tax," Charpentier said.

As stabilization work continues, questions remain about how the pier reached its current condition. San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller pointed to the loss of federal funding.

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"Pacifica had a plan to fix this pier. What happened a year ago was that the Trump administration canceled the BRIC grants. He canceled the funding that would have avoided this," Mueller said.

Still, it is unclear whether that funding alone would have prevented the damage. Charpentier noted the crack likely formed during storms in 2023 and worsened with high tides.

Despite the uncertainty, officials say their focus remains on reopening the pier, a place many residents and visitors value.

"If we do not act the ocean will always will the battle over coastal erosion. We need to act," Liccardo said.

Liccardo said he plans to introduce legislation called the "Ounce of Preservation Act," aimed at helping fund projects like the Pacifica Pier before they reach a crisis point. This would let states and local governments to use their Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocations for disaster mitigation projects. Right now, he says those programs can only be used once disaster has already hit.