Harried Homeowners on Beachfront Property

Re “A Malibu Civics Lesson: Beach Is Open,” Aug. 25: I live in the desert now, but I spent most of my life on the beach, and I have such sympathy for the people who own property on Broad Beach or anywhere on the ocean. It’s the public who have created the problem. They don’t just let their children use the front of the houses for “potty stops” ... they steal towels, surfboards and fences (to make fires), and they come into your home to steal. No wonder the residents have such tight security.

Those Broad Beach residents pay extraordinary taxes to live there. They deserve to protect their property and their homes. They give jobs to a great many people. They shouldn’t have to pay to have to clean up after members of the public deface their property or the beach in front of their homes. Those same people have already defaced the public facilities at the beaches. And I have never been to Zuma Beach when there wasn’t enough space for beachgoers.

Lee Butler

Palm Desert