Let’s move on pollution

Good morning, Laguna Beach.

On the stunningly clear and sunny Tuesday when I find myself writing this column, I again wonder where the urban runoff comes from that is continually pooling below the ramp at Victoria Beach.

It has a number of times grown to the size of a small swamp, and today is no different except it’s smaller and I don’t see any kids playing in it.

But it’s there. Sick, disgusting, contaminated water that sits around long enough to turn into a color black as night.

Strange, isn’t it, that these problems continue to plague our beaches but are never seen on MTV or mentioned before our beloved City Council.

Does anyone really think our City Council is that concerned about the pollution of our beaches and ocean?

Tell me, when is the last time you saw a council member enjoying a day at the beach?

My first answer is, never in my life, and my other answer is that I do see City Manager Ken Frank at the beach quite often, especially in the summertime.

With this said, wouldn’t you think that after last summer’s red tide debacle -- quite possibly a glimpse into our ocean’s future -- that this perhaps would put up a few red flags and set off a few million alarms around the world that, if we do not start doing something in the way of preserving our ocean, this is the future that lies ahead for us?

Not just a summer of red tide, but a lifetime?

Ask yourself, have you ever in your lives, before last summer, seen a red tide that was so sickening to look at and that stuck around for months at a time?

And let me ask you this: Have you ever wondered about who actually picks up the contaminated water signs that are placed so eloquently on the beach warning swimmers not to go in?

The answer: no one.

It’s sad that our city continues to find ways to blast into our hillsides but can’t figure out how to solve these runoff problems that continue to ruin our beaches. But maybe it’s like one person said to me the other day: “If it doesn’t affect them, why should they care?”

I don’t even want to think about that answer because the reply might just be, “I don’t like the beach, so I don’t really care.” Kind of like, “It’s my birthday and I don’t want to see the color black all over the place, so we’re going with red instead.”

So please join us at our next environmental committee meeting at City Hall, Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m., and let us know what you think.

After all, I think agenda items such as reducing the number of low-flying helicopters and banner-plane traffic can wait until the next meeting.

Peace.

* James Pribram is a Laguna Beach native, board member of Clean Water Now!, professional surfer and founder of the Aloha School of Surfing. He can be reached at jamo@alohaschoolofsurfing.com.

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