Beach Parking Fees

* Re “Residents Fear Plan Will Boost RV Traffic,” June 8.

It is a bad idea to charge beach-goers a fee to park along Rincon Beach and allow recreational vehicle parking all night. This kind of revenue gain only discourages longtime residents from wanting to go to the beach if they have to pay to enjoy a nice day there.

What is this world coming too? For freedom of enjoyment there has to be a cost? It should not cost money to visit the ocean and mountains.

Charging beach-goers and recreational vehicle campers would generate money but only attract more out-of-towners, frustrate local residents and violate our freedom as Americans.

One day, there will be nowhere to go to enjoy yourself without having to pay money. Life should not be based on making money but on freedom of enjoyment and valuing what the Earth provides, not man.

MAYA BARRAZA

Ventura

*

So Ventura County gets into a financial mess and seeks to solve its problems on the backs of the working-class people who don’t own these half-million-dollar road yachts.

So where do we park to enjoy that stretch of beach, Ventura County Supervisors? Are you going to pull down the No Parking signs across the highway?

It is really sickening to see the behavior of the supervisors who run this county. No accountability and, when all else fails, stick it to the working people; they probably don’t vote and won’t complain if we take away the last few free things they use for recreation.

I guess we can just cruise up and down Ventura Avenue and enjoy all the improvements that the federal dollars have provided!

DAVE GUNALL

Ventura

*

There’s money in public recreation--yours.

Want to spend the day hiking in Matilija Canyon? It’ll cost you $100 in parking tickets to leave your car at the end of the county road, a road the county closed more than two years ago citing storm damage (even though the road is eminently safe and passable).

Want to spend the day surfing at Pitas Point? Your chance of finding day-use parking at Faria County Park was reduced last year to just five spots to add room for revenue-producing overnight camping.

Want to go fishing at Mondo’s before the sun comes up or after it goes down? Sorry, that’s another ticket. You can’t park along the old highway because well-heeled residents don’t want you disturbing their peace.

Want to take the kids to the beach between Emma Wood State Beach and Solimar? Better get there fast. The Board of Supervisors is now ready to reduce day-use parking by approximately 50% along that stretch of old highway to make room for more RV parking.

Why? Because there’s revenue to be had and, due to mismanagement, the county is deep in red ink.

What can you do? Voice your opposition by writing or calling your county supervisor.

JIM LITTLE

Ojai