“I don't care what you think, it was deeded to me!”
Nothing unites the entirely disparate surf world like rich bastards buying beachfront mansions and blocking access to The People™ or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe only my blood boils when I hear tales of the ultra-wealthy buying homes in Malibu or Montauk or Montecito, throwing up gates and having security guards wag ugly fingers into crestfallen faces.
Oh how it riles. How it infuriates. I’ve got the nasty sort of temper when it comes to these things that doesn’t lead to resolution but feels good and that’s why I’m always so impressed by salt-of-the-earth folk who make access for all their mission. Who go to town hall meetings, petition citizens, start signature drives and try to do things the right way i.e. not waiting until darkness falls and throwing rocks through windows.
Salt-of-the-earth folk like surf shop owner Bob Hovey from the town of Duck, which is on North Carolina’s outer banks.
Now, Duck doesn’t sound like a fancy pants town name but apparently rich blow-ins have scooped up the best property and disallowed access to locals and let’s learn about the situation first. Let’s get all caught up in the Virginian-Pilot:
Surfer and businessman Bob Hovey pointed to a small sign at the end of Plover Drive next to a boardwalk leading to the beach.
“No trespassing,” it said.
Hovey hates that sign.
“This spot right here is so prime to be a public beach access,” said the 48-year-old owner of Duck Village Outfitters. “I’m going to keep fighting for public beach access in Duck. It’s doable.”
Hovey has created a Facebook page to promote his passion. Several people post comments supporting his cause. He has appeared at numerous town hall meetings to plead his case. He filed suit last year against the town, but a judge ruled against him in May. He started an online fundraising effort that garnered $1,000.
After all of that, he has made little headway.
He owns a home in Duck’s Osprey Ridge, but it sits on the soundside of N.C. 12. Businesses and homeowners who are in one of the ocean-to-sound neighborhoods do not have access, he said. Construction workers and shop owners and employees who do not live there cannot easily get to the surf, he said.
The Town of Duck incorporated in 2002 after private neighborhoods had already enveloped the oceanfront, said Town Manager Chris Layton. Its seven miles of beach are open to the public, but without public access points, people have to cross private property to reach them.
In Duck, the federal government owns about 150 acres around the Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility, the long pier set up for ocean studies. Decades ago, people could drive to the pier parking lot and use a path to the ocean for surfing, said Jon Britt, a Duck town councilman.
“Then, unfortunately, times changed,” he said.
The officials, planners, etc. used every excuse in the book, nothing changed and today Bob Hovey was allegedly arrested while standing near the path and let’s dip into his Instagram.
I got arrested and taken away in a cop car thanks to Donna Krieger and Allan Dald pictured in this video. I was using the Sea Breeze Dr. beach access in Duck, NC. that was deeded to the public in 1981. Sorry to anyone I offended but I felt adamant about sticking up for beach access rights. The beach is for everyone and something needed to be done to protect beach access rights in Dare County. The town of Duck has received millions of Dare County taxpayer money for beach nourishment and other beach services. Anyone that can help with my cause please contact me at 2526796575. I have been told by Police Chief Cuito that I would not be arrested for using the state road beach accesses in Duck so it was a bit of a surprise to me. My court date is July 5th. I am hoping this will get thrown out of court based on the fact it was deeded to the public and we will have our beach access rights reinstated. I bailed myself out and am heading to work now so I am ok.
Oh the bastards. Oh the rich bastards or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe this is just the way things are and we should all thank the rich for succeeding where we failed.
Should we be satisfied eating our cake?
If you don’t like cake, call Bob! 252-679-6575
