Public’s Rising Tide of Anger on Beach Access

Re “The Sand and the Fury in Malibu,” July 10: The fight in Malibu over public beach access at Broad Beach is the classic class struggle: the haves against the have-nots. The people of California own this land and not the moneyed few. I personally hope our new governor does not give in to the political pressure from his rich Hollywood cronies and fight against keeping our beach free to public access.

Charles Beck

Diamond Bar

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So, once again, the good burghers of Malibu are raising a fuss about sharing the beaches in front of their homes with the rest of us. Enough already, let them declare their independence and keep us off their beaches. But the next time they are again inundated with their all-too-often flood, fire, highway-closing disasters, etc., let their independence restrain our tax-starved fire, sheriff, paramedic and highway-clearing services from bailing them out.

Aaron Epstein

North Hollywood

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My family and I were among those members of the public who decided to drastically reduce our outings to that beach seven years ago rather than be hassled by the goons on ATVs hired by our neighbors.

When they needed help in fire and floods, we were neighbors anyway. When we wanted to use the beach, we were part of the unwashed and unwanted public.

Don’t feel sorry for my family; we are lucky enough to live nearby and have access to very nice beaches. You should be concerned for the working family that just wants some fun in a nice place and is treated this miserably and wrongfully. The Trancas Property Owners Assn. should apologize to all those families whose days at the beach have been ruined by its failure to respect the rights of others.

Bill Sampson

Malibu

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The California Coastal Commission must be applauded for its efforts to reopen Broad Beach to the public. For too long our beautiful Southern California coastline has been blighted by private development and shielded from public use by wealthy property owners who hire goons on ATVs to intimidate beachgoers. I urge everyone to visit the Coast Commission website, print the access maps to Broad Beach and enjoy a nice outing on public land that we all have a right to experience.

Bill Haney

Thousand Oaks