State of California

Even back in the 1980s, Santa Monica was kind of sketchy–like a town ran by former carnies or something. But it also had the pretty beach side and young professionals wanted to live there. Back then, Santa Monica was still a hot place to live and kind of affordable compared to Los Angeles and San Diego. It is the home of DogTown. Santa Monica had some OG 70s and 80s Surf Scene. Skatepunks loved that the place to be gritty. Times have changed but I still like visiting Santa Monica a lot.

California can heal without pushing out people who aren’t millionaires.

Have you ever been to Santa Barbara? I could feel the city getting the edges of some grime there, but it is still absolutely beautiful. California needs more of that.

The new punk is some form of refined California chill.

Surfers today do not realize how difficult it was to surf along the California coast during the 70s-90s. We fought with neighborhoods and cops. It was why surfers were called outlaws. Back then, houses were sold with “beach rights” to the ocean. That meant surfers could not walk on the beach because it was tied to the house or housing project and, therefore, private. This was before a lot of public beach and so finding spots could be difficult, if not dangerous. Not only were homeowners willing to threaten or use deadly force, but their kids would claim local turf and cause fights. Plus the spots we could access were unmanned and unknown for currents or rocks.

Homeowners in the Bu have always done this, so it isn’t really news other than needing to be on Surfrider Foundation’s radar and citizen activists and surfers need to get involved. Back in the day, we would have spray painted arrows and “public beach” for paths. Today, I would say, if they are going to be jerks, then take them to court and temporarily mark the access points with signs.

Imagine how little of the West Coast doesn’t have a house on it. If the Bu wins, we lose spots to surf and open beach to enjoy.