Surfing in Long Beach

I have been out of the loop on this for, well, almost forever.  But I've always been conscious of the fact that there are local people fighting for surfer's rights in many locales.  I'm not sure what is going on with the LBSA, but I am sure that there are people out there who try hard for very little thanks.  Here is something I read on Facebook that just highlights some of the difficulties surfing has traditionally faced as it fights for a space to happen.

Check out the LBSA FB page for more info.

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to let you all know that I have decided it's time for me to

step down as president of the LBSA. I believe the same is true for the

other board members as well.

Larry, Will, and I were at the city council meeting last night and it was a

mess. People from the Westholme area were unhappy with the new surf

schedule. I want everyone to understand how that schedule came about.

Since Danny Bobis and I started the LBSA almost three years ago, a main

goal has always been more surfing space in Long Beach. This is what the

members have asked for. I have tried very hard to work for this while

always being respectful of the general population. The issue has been one

of safety and equitable access. Surfing in Long Beach is very popular and

two surfing beaches just wasn't enough.

When we as a board have reached out to the city council we have always

done so on behalf of the members of the LBSA. This year was no different.

The input we got this year was the same as always... the beaches are

crowded and we need space. With all that has been going on in town, the

rebuilding of the boardwalk, the overall craziness, etc., we started

reaching out to the council months ago to discuss how surfing would be

permitted this summer. We knew that there were concerns last summer

regarding two surfing beaches next to one another, and certain beaches

being designated as surfing on more than one holiday weekend. We wanted to

make sure that these issues were addressed but not at the expense of the

space we had worked so hard to establish. Basically we wanted to help the

city fix this problem without eliminating surfing in that area of town.

It took a very long time for the city to get back to us. Understandable as

there is so much going on. We were finally called in for a meeting a

little over a month ago. The purpose of this meeting was for the city to

hear the concerns of the surf community as presented by the LBSA. This is

normal procedure for a community based organization. We listen to the

members and bring info to the powers that be. We can only present the

concerns that are shared with us whether it be at a meeting or via email.

When we met with the city we did not do so in secret. We did not ask them

to do something for us and try to get it passed through without telling

anyone. We did not promise political support or favors in the future. We

sat down to share the concerns of the surfing population and discuss a

surfing schedule, plain and simple. We were clear about wanting to fix the

two in a row issue as well as the holiday weekend issue. We discussed

making Laurelton a permament beach. We discussed rotation ideas. Everyone

involved felt the more concrete and permanent a schedule the easier it

would be for all beach goers. In the end a schedule was created and

proposed. It was not approved then and there. We were told the city would

review it, discuss it, and get back to us. We asked only that the city

make a decision in enough time for the schedule to be printed, distributed,

and included in the Herald's summer guide so as to properly inform the

public.

They got back to us about a month later saying the schedule had been

approved. Last year they held a public hearing first. This year they did

not. I do not know why they did it this way, but they did. The decision

was theirs. The city could have shared this with the public last night,

but they did not.

When the schedule was released people in the Westholme area got angry and

their anger was directed towards me. They rallied their neighbors to go to

the council meeting last night to attack not just the council, but also to

attack me. Last night I was accused of making back room deals, being

selfish, and trying to take advantage of the community. I had someone look

me in the eye and say to me... "Who do you think you are using Project Pay

it Forward to get in the back door with the city and make these deals?" I

was told that the only reason I was involved in the projects I have been

involved in since the storm was to be able to further advance my own agenda.

I want it to be clear that I have no political aspirations. I do not

believe in back room politics. I do not want to be on the city council. I

do not want special treatment or favors. I love Long Beach and want to see

good things happen here. I am very proud of the work I have done with the

LBSA. I think the fact that there is a surfing beach for the kids in the

West End and that Lincoln is no longer burdened with a camp are great

accomplishments. I am proud of the work of Project Pay it Forward.

That said, I do not need to have my own reputation dirtied over surfing

space. I have to say that the worst part about last night was getting up

there to speak on behalf of the surf community and not having the surf

community there for support. I have not been working to get more surfing

space for myself... I have been working to get it for the surf community.

There were about 10 people from the LBSA there last night. It would have

been nice to have had the support of the people I have been working on

behalf of.

Maybe it would have been worse if there was a room full of surfers, in that

it would have been even more of an us vs. them event. There was no need

for that. I was very disappointed to see such a tactic used by the people

upset with the schedule. I tried to express that when I spoke last night.

I don't need to fight with anyone, let alone over a surfing beach. If

we've learned anything from Sandy its that we need to be united, not

divided. I've had nothing but good intentions and last night I was painted

as the enemy. I don't want to be the enemy.

I believe there is good work the LBSA can do, but I can no longer lead this

charge. If anyone is interested in taking a leadership role, please let me

know.

Thanks,

Billy Kupferman