"It’s a slice of heaven and it’s getting really crappy.”
Ahhhh summer in coastal Southern California. A blanket of gray that lovingly smothers the Pacific touching bits into middle July. Millions, cooking inland, fleeing their god-forsaken lands to cool themselves in the temperate waters. The joys of cultural mingling and understanding.
Except this year where rage is percolating and particularly in Laguna Beach long known for its surf adjacency (Gotcha was headquartered here) and gentle artists (once a year people pretend to be in paintings).
But you recall learning of the Laguna Beach surf-artist who roped off a portion of sand in front of her house then screamed expletives at a mother and child daring trespass.
She, it appears, just the tip of the spear. The entire community is up in arms, mad as hell and, apparently, not willing to take it any more. Local Greg Viviani goes down to the beach and picks up loads of trash himself, also finding empty bottles of green apple flavored Smirnoff Ice and sex toys, according to The Los Angeles Times. “It never ends,” he told the paper. “You can clean it all up in one day and it’ll be covered with trash tomorrow.”
Others, calling it “destructive tourism” are pushing city officials to do something about the mess and taking out local advertisements targeting “litter, cigarette smoke and loud vehicle exhaust.
“I know we’re all very protective of our community, but we’re getting this everywhere, and I don’t think we can necessarily expect it to change because it gets hot inland and people just pour in here,” Mayor Sue Kempf said at a city council meeting. “It’s a problem.”
Joanne McMahon, who grew up either in or near Laguna Beach, felt the issue was tourist promotion, declaring, “I feel like we’re promoting tourism to the point of just over impact. Why do we need to continue to promote this for visitors? We can’t handle what we’ve got now” later adding, “It’s a slice of heaven and it’s getting really crappy.”
War in paradise.
Which side would you take? Ciggies and Smirnoffs or Pageant of Masters?
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Over tourism is capitalism,s cancer it allways kills its self.
can anyone of you people confirm the following…surfer’s and their associations are not people…WEIRD?
From The LA Times: “Here’s how to properly asborg to pet feces from you’re front yard.”
Who really cares for So Cal anyway? Other than Tom Curren no real contributions to surfing.
Tad more if we count SoCal Honorary Citizens like Fil
Sex toys? Where’s Wiggolly
paddling a straight line. and Kid’s put the taco supreme away!
Who takes bong tugs with a lighter? Dudes a cop!
Just think if there was surf in Laguna (I know there are spots that sometimes break)…shit would really hit the fan!
good bodysurfing though
True that!
Had breakfast at Wild Taco late Sunday morning and the east of the 5 crowd was all over the sidewalks, on PCH and fortunately skipping one of the great meals in Laguna. Let’s keep it a secret as I don’t want to see their sex toys on the floor while I eat.
Ah yes, Wild Taco, where me and the lady’s 4 a la carte street tacos cost $25 last week. Damn you PCH commercial leasing, DAMN YOU!!!
BUT the food is so good!!! We were at $43 for three of us Sunday morning
Solid tacos, but Taco Stand burritos are a superior product for a far superior price. Adolfo’s too for the culture of it all
Absolutely agree! BUT have you ever witnessed your mid twenties kid get hit on by a late 50s lady at Javiers?
Dad? Is that you?
SHHH! Don’t tell anyone I’m on here especially mom as she has no idea I’m a degenerate!
Psst, she knows!
Fair point. I met her when I was still ski bunming, before I cut my hair…
It was the hair….
Most of which is gone now…but at least I have a beer gut to compensate.
My bad
Dude, you got jipped.
there’s a great little place on the corner of PCH and Brooks Street where you can get 2 tacos for a dollar.
😆
Super dependable, open 24hrs a day, AND stumbling distance from the Dirty Bird.
Sandpiper was the best. many games of pool and darts played, much dancing and take away tacos.
when I travel for work in L.A., I always stay at the Del Camino about two blocks away.
Tell me more, is their salsa as good and how about the tortillas? Ate at Olemendi’s Saturday, can those 2 dollar tacos match their red sauce?
see the full-length movie pics? penguins in a death spiral?
I love Laguna Beach, even though it is almost entirely populated by snobs.
However, in my younger days, when looking for late night or breakfast Taco, Laguna was the place to go. It seemed that the Laguna Beach Taco distributors much preferred imported burrito, to the local brand.
Once upon a time, it was a haven for artists, hippies, gays, and other social outcasts. Good surf too, for those who know when & where to look.
Like east of the 5 tacos and burritos?
geek squad is ragging on the bell…vut software delivewred
I am sure Sue Kampf has a solution just cant quite put my finger on it
Her son Surf Kampf rips, saw him at Thalia
“Can’t put my finger on the boat…”
Sex toys on the beach…sounds like DR was doing research for this article but you hijacked it, Chas.
I thought I saw DR hitchhiking up Laguna Canyon Sat night, in front of the Jeep place, around 10pm with a toy in one hand and a can of whipped cream in the other. Seemed like a normal night to me