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	Vol.7, No 3, September 1, 1999
	Locals bitter over beach closure By Mark Blackburn Daily Forty-Niner Huntington Beach residents and merchants are feeling the grip of the yellow, biohazard tape that may choke off the last days of summer.    The state beach lost another stretch of its coast last Wednesday when Orange County health officials closed 2.2 miles of the state beach to water sports because of contamination. The further closure may throw off residents' and merchants' plans for the Labor Day weekend, when thousands of visitors are expected to hit the beach.   The closure more than doubled the previous 2-mile ban that closed the beach in mid-August, shutting down 4.2 miles of Huntington Beach.   The closures, which started in early July in Newport Beach, are due to raw, untreated sewage causing a rise in bacteria levels in the coastal waters, according to official city reports.   Swimmers and surfers are banned from the portion of Huntington Beach beginning at the border of Newport Beach and running north for 4.2 miles.   Although the city has stepped up efforts to locate the source of the sewage spill, so far nothing has provided any insight into the problem. Technicians using infrared photography last week failed to find the main source of the pollution, official reports on the Internet reported over the weekend.   The ban, which extended last week across the Huntington Beach Pier into the state side from the already closed city portion, looks to cause economic hardships to local merchants on Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway.   Scotty Cocharan, a 30-year Huntington Beach resident and owner of coffee shop Java Jungle, said he is feeling the effects after only four official days of the closure.   "I added a surf shop about three months ago, just as the closures were hitting this area," Cocharan said.       "I had to cover my grand opening sign with a beach closure sign.  Iím doing only about one-fifth of the business I should be."   "Other than telling us lies and sending last-minute notices, the city hasn't communicated anything to the businesses," Cocharan said.   In response to growing concerns from the Main Street merchants, Huntington Beach officials announced Friday that the city would lower beach and pier parking prices from $7 to $1, effective this past weekend.   But the cheaper ride may come too late for the smaller surfers.   "That's OK for the big chains on Main Street," Cocharan said. ìBut Iím a PCH guy.  I use the cash from these last weekends to hold on during the winter months.   They lower the prices and leave the beach open to make money on Main Street and donít care about the little guys. I'd rather lose money than see anyone get sick."   So while the waves are empty, the businesses on Main Street are managing to stay full for now. With back-to-school sales at both The Huntington Surf and Sport store and Jackís Surfboards, directly across from the entrance to the pier, business is still brisk.   "So far we are doing all right," said Sean Shedes, manager of Jackís Surfboards. "People come down to the pier and they can still walk around and shop. We have our sales for back-to-school and Labor Day, so itís really too early to say if  [the ban] is going to hurt us. Now when winter comes [if the ban is still in effect], it might kill us."   While the businesses deal with the economic problems, residents and visitors deal with the activity-related hassles of the closure. With the water off-limits, some feel the last days of summer fun are off-limits too.   "I used to surf here every day," said Dale Simms, 16, a local resident. "Now I have to get up twice as early and travel twice as far just to surf half as long. When school started back, I had to switch to only weekend runs."   Others are more upset by the way the city and state are getting the information out to the people. The Huck Finn Fishing Derby, a childrenís fishing competition scheduled for last Saturday on the Pier, was canceled without notice.   "My kids and I came all the way down here from Long Beach," said Maribel Shawn, mother of three. "And we didnít know the event was canceled until we saw a handmade sign posted on the pier." With parking costs reduced and food stands open limited hours, Huntington Beach will close for the first time for the three-day holiday, according to numerous sources.		Transit buses diverted due to on-campus traffic Faculty hiring soars Locals bitter over beach closure Vexed students find other transportation New Korean class thrives after petitioning Bus detour wrong for students Forest service has right to party Probation program unknown Art exhibit impresses May makes play Former Wilson High coach rebuilding waterpolo team LBSU soccer team hopes for redemption Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.