SOCIAL: Ban on Ocean Beach Bonfires

[apurva kothari]

> Hey all,
> 
> If you enjoy the freedom to pop over to Ocean Beach,
> and have a fire,  
> or BBQ, with friends, then take a minute now, so we
> don't have to  
> deal with hassle in the future.
> 
> My friend put up this website for people to speak up
> about the  
> proposed ban on Ocean beach.
> 
> This link contains a form that goes to the powers
> that be, and has a  
> cheat sheet of talking points for a short letter.
> I've pasted my long  
> letter below.
> 
> http://saveoceanbeach.org/stopthefireban
> 
> Thanks,
> -m
> 
>
--------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Mr. Evenson,
> 
> My name is Marc Scheff, I am 29 years old, an active
> San Franciscan,  
> and an active lover of Ocean Beach. I am writing to
> strongly oppose a  
> ban of fires at Ocean Beach.  I love Ocean Beach,
> and the freedom to  
> share the beach with friends, at night, with sober
> respect.
> 
> I am part of a men's group that uses a bon fire
> every week for our  
> meetings.  We bring in our wood, have our fire in
> compliance with all  
> regulations, and we put out the fire as required,
> every single time.  
> Each week, we bring a bucket to put the fires out,
> and have a strict  
> "leave no trace" rule. We are committed to high
> standards, and have  
> been using the beach for our group for nearly 10
> years, responsibly.  
> We've also represented ourselves at beach clean-ups
> and voiced our  
> support for a cleaner, more respected beach.
> 
> Removing fires will not end litter, drunken rowdy
> behavior, or other  
> issues raised in support of this ban. This ban would
> only serve to  
> punish responsible citizens who comply with the
> regulations and who  
> respect the beach and its neighbors.
> 
> I understand you have significant pressure from
> vocal minority of  
> people in the neighborhood, but they do not
> represent your  
> constituency which is all of SF and the greater Bay
> Area.  These  
> people chose to live at near the beach, and they
> have every capacity  
> to make a difference about their complaints without
> a ban taking place.
> 
> For instance, they can create a volunteer beach
> patrol that notifies  
> rangers of unauthorized parties at the beach or
> people burning things  
> against regulation.  They can organize a beach clean
> up.
> 
> That said it is our hope that you will reach a
> conclusion that falls  
> short of a ban, and does not put on onerous or
> expensive permitting  
> requirements.  I think a permit with a nominal fee
> of $5 per fire per  
> day would serve much of the leverage you seek.  I
> would also suggest  
> that groups, such as spiritual groups or groups that
> use fire as part  
> of their activities be allowed to apply for a year
> long permit that  
> can be taken away if abused.  Your rangers can have
> these permits on  
> record and could easily enforce fire regulations.
> 
> Thank you very much for considering our long
> standing and responsible  
> use of fire at the beach.
> 
> Thank you,
> -Marc Scheff
> 
> 
> 

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