Can't Wait to Camp on Main Beach
Cheeky Thoughts from Stu Saffer on Laguna's No Camping Ordinance

Main Beach 1920

The ACLU's lawsuit against the City of Laguna Beach brings to the fore the current city code against camping… 18.04.020 Camping No person shall pitch a tent or camp or sleep upon any beach, park, public street, alley or passageway, or sleep in any automobile parked at any place within the city; provided that between the hours of seven a.m. and seven p.m. it shall not be unlawful to sleep upon any beach within the city. Awnings, umbrellas and covers over six feet tall or larger than six feet square are also prohibited.

You go ACLU!

Knock out this restrictive ordinance you say is unconstitutional and we all can "…pitch a tent or camp or sleep upon any beach, park, public street, alley or passageway, or sleep in any automobile parked at any place within the city…" and we can do it 24/7.

After all, the ordinance does not specify any suspect class of people.

Folks will be claiming camping spots the day after this ordinance is struck down to have the best spots for the 4th of July fireworks and it wouldn't matter what time of the year the court rules. What a great way to entertain your out of town visitors and there'd be no need to pay the expensive rental fees for an RV!

All Lagunans who'd like things to be as they used to be could be ecstatic seeing Main Beach return to the 1920s as above. Of course, the cars and tents today will be more colorful to be sure.

The poor Visitor's Bureau - what a dilemma. Who'd want to stay in a hotel when the beaches and parks will be free? But not to worry - it could all be a new source of city revenue.

How about bringing back "Tent City"? Tents could be placed inside the empty businesses downtown. As the 1924 price list shows, tents would have "… a high grade of furniture throughout…" and include linen, housekeeping and "complete equipment." Today, complete equipment would mean access to the Internet, digital cable or a TV dish…and all sorts of other modern comforts.

Adjusting for inflation, the 4 Party Tent furnished for housekeeping that was $14 per week in 1924 would cost $179.06 today. That's so darn reasonable I'd be standing in line on day one when they start booking reservations. Maybe this could solve the city's quest for more low-cost housing as well.

And - the new lifeguard headquarters would need to be larger than proposed and more guards would have to be hired since the beaches could never be closed lest a camper's good night's sleep be interrupted - something the ACLU opposes.

A weekly camp space on the beach could be reserved for $38.37 today. Maybe those open camp spaces could be limited to just one beach, say Bluebird. Just post a sign: BEWARE - This Beach Has a History of Late Night Sewer Spills. A premium could be charged for higher camping spots.

Would it be unconstitutional to have an ordinance saying campers need to move on after one week as we do with time limits on parking meters? If the city could do that - legally - our beaches and parks could be available to that many more visitors.

One more thing; the law firm representing the ACLU, Irell and Manella, can really increase their billable hours by having their client go after yet another unconstitutional city ordinance:

11.08.040.B It is unlawful for any person to sleep on any beach, whether public or private, or public pier or dock at any time between the hours of nine p.m. and nine a.m. of the next day.

Especially since it's part of the municipal code of the city where Irell and Manella have their good offices - Newport Beach.