(Saturday, 6 a.m.) I arrived at Leo Carrillo State Beach. To my surprise there was a surf contest taking place. I’ve seen this before, but never before have I been threatened with citation and surfboard confiscation if I did not leave the water. Upon notification by a LA County lifeguard who paddled out to me in the water, I begrudgingly complied and exited the water. On the beach, I was heckled by surfers from parts unknown who had taken over our local Malibu jewel.
Later, I asked one where he was from. San Diego, he said. That would explain people sleeping on the beach. Doesn’t that go against County ordinance? Similarly, the litter strewn about by the outsiders represents another infraction in our beautiful city.
This letter was spawned by my growing frustration on this matter.
The Constitution guarantees “Liberty, equality and justice for all.”
I was denied “equality” in my own city, and treated as second class. If I were to go to the towns/cities where these people were from, would those cities close down a park on my behalf and deny entry to its local residents? The lifeguard (who was just doing his job) told me that his supervisor had signed a document and it had been posted, notifying everyone of the beach and water closure. Furthermore, he admitted that this type of closure was a first. How can the water be closed when the states’ jurisdiction only goes only so far as the median tide mark.
Even when there is a public health problem, beach and water closure is not mandatory, it is merely a suggestion. Under those conditions the government does not strip us of our civil liberties to use publicly funded open spaces. Is it not the state’s obligation to provide “public access” to the beach? If the State were to close Leo Carrillo to the public for a Disney company picnic, I can assure you people would be up in arms.
This beach closure sets an upsetting precedent and raises many issues: including Constitutional questions and the ethics of public officials.
Lee Walmsley