When Classists And Environwhackos Allign

I find myself utterly amazed that people really want to ban an activity that is a natural rite of passage to the So Cal lifestyle but leave it to enviornwhackos, state officials, a cowed city council and classists to try to take the beach bonfire away from some So Cal beaches.
Yet here it is.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District, a state bureaucracy that is supposed to monitor bad air quality is pursing eliminating open burning year round at Los Angeles and Orange county beaches.
Most of these beaches have large firepits with the sole purpose of. . .having a bonfire at the beach.
The reason is because, and I would never have guessed this, health concern of beach goers. Because after all, burning firewood at a beach bonfire smoke is kind of unhealthy. You know?
Well here, let this dude, Sam Atwood, of the SCAQMD, explain it:

"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that smoke is unhealthy and contains many harmful pollutants — some of which can cause cancer. And it doesn't take a costly scientific study to tell you that dozens of these fires in close proximity create very unhealthy levels of smoke for anyone near them, and for residents downwind."

OK Sammy, do you think that these firepits are literally inches apart? At most beaches that have them, they are quite far apart. And they are not all used at the same time if at all.
But Sammy, he just can't control himself and really thinks that eliminating a huge reason so many take in a beach in So Cal will not make a difference to most. Here he is again:
"This is not going to be the end of California's storied beach culture and history. This is to create a healthier experience for those who go to the beach."

Really, dude?! You really think that this does not got to the heart of a part of that beach culture and history?
This Sammy guy must be an East Coaster. Seriously.
You know what else can ruin a day at the beach, Sammy?
Hey, how about when a surfer has a wipe out and say tha board hits him on the head? What about a body boarder? How about someone just in the water and gets caught in rip current and can't swim with it? I mean, to take Sammy's first pearl of wisdom, smoke has harmful pollutants. Water can be dangerous even for the most experienced body boarder, surfer and swimmer.
This is why this "logic" is rather silly.
But really, you have to go further into the story to see what this is really about.
Newport Beach is a pretty upper-crust beach community. The type that you have north of million dollar homes practically on the beach. a public beach, that barely can fit a family of four. This community wants to remove all firepits from their precious beaches. Because some of the neighbors just can't hack the smoke from these bonfires.
Now understand, Ol' Sammy says it ain't cool for the Newport Beach city council to use them as a cover to remove the firepits. And the California Coastal Commission, which is usually overly draconian it it's pronouncements, is correct is this. That it would deny people a form of entertainment on public land.
In which these beachfront homeowners seem not to understand. The firepits were there before many of the homes were built.
The real issue is classism.
The beach people, they really don't want anyone on "their" beach. No, they do not want even the locals if they can help it. They want the bodyboarders, the surfers, pretty much anyone that they do not like to stay away. But most of all us people from the dreaded valleys, the San Fernando valley and the San Gabriel valley to stay the hell away. Take a look at the photo below.

 

Now look at that. What it looks like is a family of Black people enjoying a bonfire. In fact, it is. But it can be any race doing exactly the same thing. But while this photo is of a family at a Los Angeles county beach, it could very well be any beach anywhere in So Cal. The reason that I use the word classism and not racism is because it is what it is. Many of the beachfront homeowners are non-White. And quite a few are celebrities.

In California, there is always a battle between people that live on the beach and their property rights. However, the reality is that most of their homes are on public beaches. Thus there is always a battle of accommodation. And as I note, most of the time the Coastal Commission is way to far the other way.

But this seems to be a no brainer.

The firepits are on public beach land. And for all of us not just the few fortunate to be lucky to be in a beachfront home. The people looking for a way to get rid of them are beyond disingenuous. You can't want people to come into your town, spend their hard-earned cash and leave. Yet that is what they really want.

Hopefully the proponents of this will not prevail and a rite of passage in So Cal, the beach bonfire, will be saved.

But this is what happens when classists and environwhackos allign.



An Update To Common Sense In Los Angeles County

Well, it did not take long for the Los Angeles county board of supervisors to reverse itself and will not enforce a new ordinance that could have fined beach goers up to $1,000 for throwing a Frisbee or football on county beaches.
On Tuesday the county board raised the fines for violation to $1,000 and issued a 37-page ordinance on the issue.
But today, the county Department of Beaches and Harbors refined the policy and will allow the tradition of throwing a Frisbee and or a football so long as those get permission from a lifeguard.
See, as noted in this previous post, common sense in this case actually prevailed.
And citizens righteous outrage also may have had something to do with it.
The original justification, "public safety" did not go over too well because most do not believe this overreach has anything to do with "public safety" but is an attempt by a cash-strapped county to find other sources of revenue.
Score one for the people this time, folks.
Even in the middle of insane Blue California, the people will only take so much of big government. Especially on the beaches.

Common Sense In Los Angeles County? Are You Frickin Kidding?!

One wonders if the Los Angeles county board of supervisors ever actually get out of their offices in downtown Los Angeles and live with the very people they claim to represent.
Since I have lost count, lets chalk up the latest action of the board as another unbelievable encroachment of the Nanny State at the beach.Keep in mind that there is a lot of beach space in Los Angeles county. But if you want to go and have fun, forget it!
Now the basis of this abuse of power is. . .wait for it. . .public safety.
Are you frickin kidding me?!
Hey, here is something for the Los Angeles county board of supervisors to note.
You know there is another beach activity called surfing. I think I need somewhat explain it to you folks.
Surfing is when a dude or a gal gets up on this board and like ride waves. And like the higher the wave, the cooler the ride.
But you know what happens out there, dude?
Something called a wipe-out.
You know that is when you, you know, can't ride the wave and it is like so awesome full of energy that it knocks you off your board.
And another thing is that there are like some dangerous other things out in the water.
Like, you know, riptides. And jellyfish. And, whoa dude! Sharks.
Maybe our esteemed board of supervisors ought to ban surfing. And maybe boogie-boarding. And paddle-boarding. And body-surfing too. You know, all are dangerous and may affect the public safety.
No, really.
See what happens in the absurdity of the Nanny State?
OK, sometimes Frisbee and football throwers can be inconsiderate. But usually if they do bother people, all that has to be done is a gentle nudge and a "hey dude!" and usually the offenders back away and go someplace else.
In other words, almost all of the time, a little common sense is all that is needed.
But what this is really all about, IMHO, is another revenue stream for a cash-strapped county.
And what is really happening is that law enforcement is being reduced to glorified tax collectors with a sidearm.
As one that loves the beach, I can assure you that really very little goes on that a lifeguard can not handle. If there is a group of idiots that have no manners, usually a lifeguard can get in and rectify the situation.
But no.
There is a hope that this summer will produce a bunch of idiots that will flood Los Angeles county beaches and be no more than a cash cow because they can't play Frisbee and throw a football without incurring a not-so-righteous fine.
One of the problems in Nanny Statism is the fact that it is not in the best interests of most people. It is usually in reaction to an unusual event. And a clamor from special interest groups to "do something" about it.
Bottom line is that not only is it a blatant encroachment of people having responsible freedom. But it is an attempt to find new ways of revenue for a government. Neither is a good thing.
One hopes that the Los Angeles county board of supervisors will rethink this stupid ordinance and have common sense reign once again.