Untidy Beach-Goers

Daniel Duane’s Dec. 17 commentary criticizing the ex-wife of cell phone billionaire Craig McCaw for wanting to restrict access to the beach below her Santa Barbara home perhaps misses the point. While Duane does not tell us why Wendy McCaw would like to restrict that access, as one who lives at the beach as well, I can tell Duane that for every person like him who respects the ocean and the coastline and who derives strength from its beauty and peacefulness, there are legions of beach-goers who think nothing of leaving their beer bottles, six-pack holders, tangled up fishing line and other garbage on the beach when they leave.

I have seen mothers leave soiled diapers near the tide line and shove them into the storm drains by Dockweiler Beach. I have seen gulls with gangrenous feet rotting off after being entangled in fishing lines. I have seen people illegally setting off fireworks at all hours of the day and night, totally unconcerned that there are people living near the scene of their revels.

GORDON LOUTTIT

Manhattan Beach