This month's "Beer and Politics" forum features restauranteur John Morris pitching a plan to divert the mouth of the filthy Los Angeles River into the Port of Long Beach as a means to clean up the city's beaches.
According to Morris and his supporters, the best way to drum up tourism in Long Beach is to clean up the city's beaches. They argue that by diverting the river into the port just south of Anaheim Street, local waterfronts won't be overwhelmed with trash flowing down the L.A. River.
Still others want to see the breakwater altered or altogether removed to allow for wave action, increased water flow and a more natural coastal environment. The city's once-surfable breakers disappeared when the federal government built the underwater rock wall to protect the U.S. Navy fleet during WWII. The Navy left town in 1995, but the breakwater remains, we're told, to protect homes and cargo ships anchored in the harbor.
The LB chapter of the Surfrider Foundation has waged a decade-long campaign to sink the breakwater, with limited success so far.
Morris makes his pitch at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Smooth's Sports Grille (which he owns), 144 Pine Avenue downtown. Art Wong, with the Port of Long Beach, will speak on behalf of the Harbor Department, which does not support either breakwater alteration or river diversion.
Audience members are encouraged to kick back, question panelists and drink a few brews. Proceeds benefit the Long Beach Junior Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the monthly forum.
Here's a Surfrider-produced video about the Sink the Breakwater" campaign.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
Blog looks great, Kris. Particularly like the old Surfrider's clip.
The idea of diverting the LA river is a great one for helping clean the beaches - maybe the best one. However, I like Morris' quote even better: "The city's never going to be complete until we get our beaches back."
That cuts to the heart of it. Even with clean water, our beaches are no better than the Gulf Of Mexico. Have you ever been in the water at the Gulf of Mexico? Very disappointing. The water can be fine, in spots, but it's not much more than a stagnant lake. I mean, I'm in the ocean, right?
Getting our beaches back will mean getting real wave action back. That is the essence of the Southern California ocean. It is splashing around in bracing waves of clean water; it is body-surfing; it is feeling the spray on your face of the wind blowing through cresting waves.
It is not watching windsurfers, jet skiers, and kayaker's while sitting on the sand of a beach no more vibrant than a fancy Las Vegas hotel pool.
The breakwater should come down. Not only is it common sense, it's also the right thing to do.
I really like that as a slogan: "Get Our Beaches Back!"
Go, John Morris!