Letters: The beaches of Malibu

Re “Putting Malibu’s shore on the line,� Column One, May 27

I’m glad that environmental writer Jenny Price is helping Malibu beachgoers find the accessways often deliberately obscured by wealthy beachfront homeowners. But it’s too bad that because these gazillionaires think they own these public beaches, this issue is taking so long to get resolved.

If you visit my town (right on the Pacific Ocean), you will find easily accessible beach walks and parking lots. Walkers, surfers, boogie boarders, horses and dogs can use the beach whenever they want. There are almost 200 expensive homes on the bluffs overlooking the ocean, and beach activity has never harmed them.

I hope that none of the folks in Malibu seeking to block public beach access moves up the coast and starts trying to pollute my area with their selfish ways.

Jan Lewis

Cayucos, Calif.

My parents have had a home on the beach in Malibu since the late 1950s. There is public access nearby that gets plenty of use throughout the year.

Unlike the many public beaches with well-maintained facilities, near my parents’ house there are no bathrooms, no garbage cans and no lifeguards.

I have witnessed people urinating and defecating under my parents’ home. People have used their hose. Some have even come up to the house needing first aid. Garbage is often left near the house.

The beach is not a toilet or a trash can. Unless you have an amazing ability to suspend your bodily functions, please use a public beach that is capable of handling your mess.

Wendy Ledner

Malibu

It is heartening to know that if the unwashed (that is, the public) manage to navigate the unauthorized no-parking zones and obscured access paths, they may comfortably relax in the mean tide zone — also known as wet sand.

It’s awfully nice to live in a classless society.

Konrad Moore

Bakersfield

Chalk one up for the common folk in the Malibu beach wars. I guess the next move belongs to the wealthy landowners, who seem to be overlooking the most obvious solution to their problem of unwanted beachgoers: nude sunbathing.

That should scare everyone off the beach.

Randall R. Bruce

Los Angeles

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