Pier Pressure in Surf City

Comment on Pier Pressure in Surf City - Story by Jaimee Lynn Fletcher August 16, 2009 OC Register.

There's a new twist. Surfers looking for legal restrictions. Do we really want more regulation?

Great article and informative. As a surfer, scuba diver, and occasional fisherman, I especially appreciated the inclusion of Marine Biologist Camm Swift's accurate information regarding the types of fish in each of the areas of the pier.

There is a danger with hooks in the water to surfers. I'm always concerned about some angry fool trying to hook me as I paddle out or take a wave next to the pier or accidentally getting caught in a line I can't see.

I understand Stephen Stemmers anger at being followed, and I believe the fisherman should be punished for his aggression. I also believe the 'aggro surf-local posers' should be punished for their aggression to other surfers as well.

The real problem is not regulation. The real problem is aggressive behavior and a lack of empathy by a very few individuals on both sides.

Black Balling the beach was the regulatory solution to inconsiderate surfers who refused to wear leashes and watch out for swimmers. So now plenty of 'choice' waves go unridden even if swimmers aren't in the water.

Do we really want regulation to be applied to fishing and the pier? Restricting the fisherman to the outer section won't solve the problem on those rare epic days when it's breaking way outside and the only path out is through the pier. Who's to say how long a line they fish with? It will be even more dangerous when they feed their line to the surf zone without being within eyesight of it. And regulation may just backfire: The regulation may just be 'no surfing' near the pier.

A better solution is to enforce the laws in effect regarding aggressive behavior and leave specific regulation regarding the pier and fishing alone.

Surf City needs to clean up it's Thinking

Sunday August 16, Orange County Register - Surf City seeks to clean up party image. According to the article the city council plans to clean up the party like image of Huntington Beach. They are going to slap heftier fines on downtown restaurants that violate their entertainment permits and make certain residential areas permit-parking only. It states several on the council members claim to have already calmed down the area.

I'd like to know what planet these council members are on. First of all it's not the restaurants as much as the bars (that serve food): Hurricane's is right up there with the Chop House in creating the problem.

Not only do the noise, the bottles, the nuisances still rage, the council invites them in by inviting in special events that attract that crowd. It's not about the residents, it's about the money, and when it's all added up its the same short term thinking the council has used so often: the costs far outweigh the benefits to the city and the residents.

Not only will the problems continue, but with the plans to add more buildings, higher buildings, and remove parks, they are just exacerbating the crowd effect. Like rats in a cage, there is a breaking point where violence becomes the norm versus the exception.

Vision is required to look beyond the short term myopic fix. Huntington Beach is in a unique position to put into effect a master plan that protects open space and creates a sustainable environment that will raise the profits of the business they want to attract to this town.

For this to happen though, the council members have to re-enter the atmosphere that is called Huntington Beach.

The Inevitable

The US auto industry tried to control the market. They interfered with public transportation initiatives (Los Angeles and urban rail). They sacrificed safety, innovation, quality, and customer service to increase profits (NTMVSA, 1966). They used the courtrooms to steal ideas and put innovative auto companies out of business (Preston Tucker & Robert Kearns).

These executives, lauded and compensated in the short run (100 years), destroyed their companies in the long run (present day). Toyota is number one and Hyundai / KIA is number four and moving on number three. GM is now second and Ford is fifth and both are losing ground. With the way they operated, this is their legacy and this result inevitable.