Lawndale Tribune AND lAwNDAle News The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - February 16, 2017 What’s Keeping People Away from Local Beaches? By Rob McCarthy challenges can’t be handled by the Coastal The South Bay is shaped by the coastline, Commission and the Coastal Conservancy and so is the lifestyle in those communities. alone, The Legislature and Governor can Locals choose to live here for the ocean views lead, but it will also take local agencies, and the vibe that comes from living near the philanthropy and nonprofit organizations.” water. The beach belongs to every Californian. Last year marked the 40th anniversary of However, throngs of would-be visitors never California’s Coastal Act, which guarantees come to visit, and now we know why. everyone access to the iconic coastal areas “If you say ‘California’ to anybody, the and beaches up and down the state. coast or the beach is going to be one of the first things that pops into anyone’s mind,” said Jon Christensen, who just released the results of a statewide survey about what prevents Californians from enjoying the beaches. What Christensen and his co-researchers discovered is the state’s beaches are beyond the budgets of many residents, especially people with The poll results of voters statewide and lower incomes and families. Going to the beach surveys pinpointed the three reasons beach costs money, the survey by UCLA why people who live outside the beach cities and San Francisco State University found. say that access to the coast is a problem for They priced a day trip to the beach (almost them. The cost of parking is high, hotels $37) and an overnight stay ($605) and found aren’t affordable, and public transportation those travel costs were way beyond what is limited. Nearly 30 percent of people stay Californians were willing to pay to use the away because they can’t swim. beach or stay a night. On average, people are South Bay cities could help by offering willing to pay $8.75 for parking and $117 free or reduced parking rates on select days, for overnight accommodations. Households and it doesn’t have to be during the summer making less than $50,908 wanted to pay months only since the area’s best weather $78 for overnight accommodations, limiting happens after kids go back to school. Off-peak their options to flopping on a friend’s couch pricing to park at Dockweiler State Beach, or camping. El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa or It wasn’t always this way, Christensen notes Redondo could lower the barriers and let in his report. The Coastal Commission and visitors and first-timers to Vista del Mar the Coastal Conservancy focused on keeping experience a view of the Pacific. beaches open to the public by providing To no one’s surprise, Dockweiler State Beach access points. “Overcoming economic attracts more Latinos, African-Americans and obstacles for would-be beachgoers will prove people from lower-income households than more difficult,” he fears. “This generation of Santa Monica Beach. Santa Monica attracts a diverse beach crowd that looks like modernday California, the report said. Another finding of the survey: An overwhelming majority of California voters say that coastal water quality and the beaches are important to them. That explains why 30 million residents visit a beach at least once a year. “Our coast and beaches are among our most democratic spaces. Despite our differences, we all share a love of the coast and many of the same desires and reasons for coming to the beach,” the authors remind us. A cooperative marketing campaign to visit South Bay’s iconic beaches and vistas could go a long way toward making a day at the beach more inviting to inlanders. South Bay cities could help by offering the above-mentioned free or reduced parking rates on select days. Off-peak days pricing to park at Dockweiler State Beach, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa or Redondo could also ensure the message gets out that beaches are everyone’s to enjoy. Vista del Mar is translated “view of the ocean,” but people want to feel the sand under their feet too. The report recommends a broad series of steps that public officials and private groups and foundations can take to lower the economic barriers for people living inland. There are groups at the coast and inland doing their part to interest Latino girls in surfing, for example. The Brown Girl Surf group doesn’t have a local chapter yet, but given time and some funding it will introduce boys and girls who’ve never been to the beach to the conclusion that singer Sheryl Crow shares in a song: “I’m gonna soak up the sun while it’s still free...” • Inside This Issue Certified & Licensed Professionals.......................2 Classifieds............................3 Community Briefs...............4 Hawthorne Happenings....3 Legals................................ 6-7 Pets........................................8 Sports....................................5 Weekend Forecast Friday Rain 60˚/55˚ Saturday Rain 60˚/55˚˚ Sunday Mostly Sunny 62˚/54˚ ECHS Student Presentations on Community Forum Day Eleventh grade students present to community members about their intersession projects on Community Forum Day at Lawndale’s Environmental Charter High School (ECHS) on February 2. Pictured left to right: David Ramirez, Cristina Valadez, Franyelika Ortiz and Abel Escobar. The 11th graders explored the question, “What Role Do Changes in Demographics and Property Play in the Process of Gentrification?” In order to better understand the process of gentrification, students researched changes in property and demographics of their local community and analyze the role that they play in this process. (Photo by Ken Deemer) “If you say ‘California’ to anybody, the coast or the beach is going to be one of the first things that pops into anyone’s mind.”
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