Home  |  About  |  Original Articles  |  Book and Surf Shop  |  Logo Goods

July 21, 2009 -

Clothes Expensive, Nudity Moreso

A California state appellate court has upheld a change in policy by the state Parks and Recreation Department that allows $500 citations for beach nudity, even in areas that have historically, if informally, been designated ‘clothing optional.’

Non-enforcement of a legal ban on public nudity in state parks has been the practice of the department since the Cahill memo in the 1970s.  That policy limited enforcement to cases where a private citizen complained to law enforcement.  Park officials are now free to patrol and cite violations in those beaches where a clothing optional area has not been designated.

The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit brought by the Naturist Action Committee to preserve the status of a portion of the San Onofre State Beach as clothing optional.  Unless overturned by the California Supreme Court the ruling ends clothing optional sunbathing, swimming and surfing at San Onofre.

---

April 10, 2009 -

Local Government Liable For Big Surf Injuries?

Good article in the O.C. Register on the issue of local government liability for injuries sustained in heavy surf.  The article focuses on two cases in Newport Beach, one of which involved a drowning while the other involved a broken neck.

---

March 2, 2009 -

Shell Beach Access Litigation

Good article at MSNBC on ongoing litigation over public access at Shell Beach in San Luis Obispo county, and a ruling last month that a disputed trail is actually public due a prescriptive easement.

---

December 31, 2008 -

Litigation Moot?

Interesting article in the L.A. Times on the continued erosion of the oft-litigated Broad Beach in Malibu.

“If the latest projections of sea level rise are right, you can kiss goodbye the idea of a white sandy beach,” said Bill Patzert, a climatologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge. “You are going to be jumping off the sea wall onto the rocks below.”

---

December 19, 2008 -

Beachmen in Black

The feds have stepped in on two ongoing coastal disputes in Southern California in the last few days:

• Federal judge in San Diego orders protection for seals at Children’s Pool.
• Feds back Coastal Commission and block San Onofre toll road.

---

December 11, 2008 -

Fire Rings Going From San Diego

San Diego is reportedly going ahead with the removal of 186 fire rings from city beaches as part of its effort to deal with current budget problems.  Savethefirepits.com details the issues and discusses local efforts to save the fire pits.

---

December 9, 2008 -

Demographics On SD Beach Alcohol Ban

Great article on election demographics behind San Diego’s November approval of Proposition D, the beach alcohol ban.  While voters in Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach and Mission Beach rejected the ban, voters from other neighborhoods, notably neighborhoods with older voters and more families, provided the votes that passed the ban to protect those beach area residents who didn’t support the ban.  

---

November 26, 2008 -

What Path?

Interesting article out of Shell Beach (San Luis Obispo County), where the New Times SLO is reporting on a public access case and a claim of implied public dedication of an access path.  The article reports allegations that facing a loss in court the property owner may be trying to erode the path to render it unusable.

---

November 25, 2008 -

Been Busy

My blogging stint with KPBS Citizen Voices ended this month, culminating in a fantastic dinner at Karl Strauss last night.  The project was a lot of fun, but combined with some vollunteer efforts against Proposition 8 it took a lot of time during the election cycle.   I’m looking forward to being able to refocus some energy and time onto this site.  Coastal access and beach use issues remain both important and contentious in California, and are very near to my heart.

---

October 29, 2008 -

San Diego Proposes Restricting Kayaking

San Diego lifeguards will reportedly be posting signs banning the launching and landing of kayaks in certain parts of La Jolla Shores.  According to the Union-Tribune, the move is in response to complaints about the number of kayaks in the area, and conflicts between swimmers and kayakers.

---

Interesting Sites

70 Percent Good site focusing on reporting and documenting break conditions for waveriders
Coastal Marine Resource Center Non-profit from the New York-New Jersey Harbor Bight
Free PB Opposition to additional beach regulations at San Diego’s Pacific Beach
Race for the Oceans A forum for swimmers and swimming fans to dive in to ocean conservation.
Surfrider Foundation Activities and campaigns for clean water, beach access, beach preservation and protecting special places.