CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Stacey Kissam

January 31st, 2012

Saw Nancy Gardiner bring up "reviewing the fire rings" at big Corona beach at a City Council Meeting in September. She cited an injury and lawsuit in Huntington Beach. This was discussed a few years ago and public outcry and bigger town issues squashed the proposal to eliminate the Fire Rings. Do we really need to rehash something that the public enjoys? Let's have everyone sign a waiver to go to the beach or put big warnings next to each pit or up our liability insurance. Would hate to see the Fire Rings eliminated.

jamie

January 31st, 2012

Let's not forget the cost that is borne by city residents. My guess is its at least $100,000 a year to clean and maintain them. Then lets talk about the crime in the residential neighborhood, not to mention large numbers (often exceeding 1,000) people leaving the beach in the dark late at night. CDM is not equipped to deal with all these people leaving in the middle of the night. Some child is going to get kidnapped in the dark and confusion. I've been warning if this for years and nobody listens. Then lets talk about safety, the rising ocean is overwashing the firerings several timed a year. This is a serious danger to beach users and creates a health concern. And finally, a question for readers. When was the last time you personally used the fire rings and how often? When was the last time you used the beach or went swimming in the dark? My point is, the only people who use the facility at night are out of town people who bring nothing to the community, but clog our streets, and leave their trash. It is long past time to end this and reclaim our neighborhood.

Dan

January 31st, 2012

I felt asphyxiated from wood smoke this weekend. The weather was beautiful, but the smoke from the fire pits was overwhelming. It is okay to go to the beach and enjoy nature, but it is not okay to pollute everyone’s air for your temporary amusement.

jamie

January 31st, 2012

PS - a quick thought to the folks on Billionaires Row (aka Ocean Blvd). You've all got lawyers, if not whole law firms. What's wrong with your filing some lawsuits if you don't like the traffic and fire ring hassels. I'm getting tired of fighting your battles for you for free. You want to get rid of the fire rings - sue the city and state for damages. I can't afford it.

Barbara Peters

January 31st, 2012

Stacey, the EPA estimates that wood smoke is 12 times more carcinogenic than equal amounts of tobacco smoke and attacks our body cells up to 40 times longer than tobacco smoke. Where is our common sense? Do you wonder why the AQMD adopted Rule 445? Their report (that you can read at http://www.aqmd.gov/rules/doc/r445/general_faq.pdf) will tell you that the particulate matter from the fire rings is unhealthful for ALL people that live and work in the South Coast Air Basin. I've seen people burn all sorts of garbage, plastic, painted/laquered furniture, along with wood. It is an unfortunate health choice for the whole community and I urge you to educate yourself by visiting the web sites of the American Lung Association, the EPA, and the AQMD.

Brent

January 31st, 2012

You guys don't stand a chance. These pits have been here longer than those complaining. And I am sick of everyone complaining about "outsiders" or "out-of-towers", the beach is here for everyone to enjoy not just those that were born here. Our local economy is driven by the influx of tourism dollars from all these so called "outsiders", we should not be removing what brings them.

Jamie

January 31st, 2012

Brent, our economy is NOT fueled by the people who use the fire rings, other than maybe a few bucks spent at Albertsons to buy some firewood (and maybe beer) for impromptu fires. The rest bring their food and fire wood from home. They fill their gas tanks at home. They eat food that they brought from home. They do not eat at our restaurants. They do not buy rugs, or imported furniture, or spend one single dime in CDM. All they bring us is their noise and pollution, and all they leave is trash. And Brent you didn't answer the question, when was the last time you used the fire rings?

Bobbi

February 1st, 2012

I am not meaning to close our beaches to outsiders, but the fire rings do cause pollution. I also have witnessed many "parents" not sufficiently watching their little children near the fires.