Southern California Beach Report
Following recent reports of naturists being warned of arrest for nudity on Gaviota Beach near Santa Barbara,
Dennis Craig Smith, noted naturist author and leader of the Friends of Gaviota Beach,
and Gary Mussell, president of the Southern California Naturist Association and Friends of Bates Beach
met with Richard Rozelle, Parks Dept. Superintendant for Ventura and Santa Barbara counties along with Dan Falat,
the district's supervising ranger on 9/1/11,
to discuss the recent increased law enforcement activity at Gaviota after several years of cooperation between the two sides.
Dennis brought with him a letter from Eric Hellstrom, who was Falats predecessor,
which spelled out the understanding that has kept the peace between nudists and deputies previously.
Dennis was eager to explain how that agreement had worked to everyones benefit.
Instead, Rozelle cut him off and said, It doesnt matter. Eric isnt here anymore. Conditions have changed.
Falat agreed with his boss: I am paid to enforce the law, not ignore it. My officers will follow the law until it is changed.
What does this mean for California naturists, visitors, and naturists in general?
In Southern California, there is now only one naturist beach that is virtually free from negative law enforcement activity,
and that is Black's Beach in San Diego.
That does not mean that you can't, or shouldn't, go down to Gaviota, Bates, or even San Onofre, and enjoy a wonderful nude day,
but you need to be prepared in case you are confronted by law enforcement.
As noted by officer Falat, he only has 9 deputies per 8 hr. shift to cover all parks and beaches from Lompoc to Goleta in his area,
due to the budget cuts in California.
In the event of any confrontation, whether it's just a warning to get dressed, or issuance of a citation, there are a few things to remember:
1) Be courteous and comply with the officer's request.
Rudeness, arguing, or refusal can result in a citation, or possible arrest.
2) In any situation, note the officer's name, badge number, and enforcement agency
(park ranger, sheriff, etc.)
3) If you are involved in, or witness an incident at any State Beach (e.g., ticketing,
harassment, official or personal, please contact Allen Baylis by phone at (714) 962-0915 or
by e-mail at rab@baylislaw.com
Alternatively, you may contact NAC Executive Director Bob Morton by phone at (512) 282-6621 or by e-mail at execdir@naturistaction.org
For those of you unaware, Allen Baylis is a lawyer on the board of the Naturist Action Commitee,
and leader of the Friends of San Onofre, who has successfully defended all the citations issued there, to this point.
Whether you're a naturist in the area, or not, you can help in the defense of naturist's rights everywhere
in the US by making a donation to the Naturist Action Committee at: www.naturistaction.org
Hey Bud! Thanks for that update! Gaviota for me has been such a great place to visit...no crowds, just nothing but nature...(and a little tar). So many great days there. I hope it will continue to be a great clothing optional beach, sans citations. again, thanks
This is really distressing news. I honestly fear for Blacks Beach. I think these rangers are on some kind of mission to impose their opinions and attitudes onto us and are misusing and abusing the law. Thanks for the update JayBird. Hope to see you guys one of these days soon. A&D
Sounds like enforcement actions being carried out at the whim of one man. That kind of authority is unacceptable in these dark days.True authority come from a mandate from the masses, not an appointment. Let's hope things begin to straighten up soon.
Yes ... the Naturist Action Committee is still heavily involved in these issues. Locally, in Southern California, the President of our nude beach group, who is also a lawyer,is still fighting citations given to nudists and is and has been extremely successful at getting the charges dismissed and none of those receiving citations have had to appear. Heis also a board member of the NAC and is in Sacramento fighting for nudists and our nude beaches, regularly. As you know ... the wheels of politics move slowly but ... they are moving and moving forward and not backward. ;-)
On 9/28/12, a delegation of more than a dozen naturists, representing the various local clothing-optional beaches and organizations addressed a meeting of the California State Parks Commission, the board that actually directs policy for the Department of Parks and Recreation.
Among the speakers were Allen Baylis from NAC (mentioned previously in AndyDi's post), Tim Mullins, AANR's Government Affairs Team Chair, Dennis Craig Smith from the Friends of Gaviota Beach, Gary Mussell from the Friends of Bates Beach, yours truly, other SCNA members, and beachgoers from San Onofre.
Speaking in a unified voice, each speaker addressed the need for the commission to re-establish a comprehensive policy directing the DPR to administer standards and enforcement similar to the long-standing Cahill policy, which worked for 30 yrs until it was revoked, and which then allowed certain park rangers to set their own standards and enforcement policies in an uneven and unfair manner. The fact that clothing-optional recreation is a valid and popular form of recreation, which deserves as much consideration as other forms of recreation allowed in State Parks, and the potential revenue brought into local communities and parks themselves, was also addressed.
Commission Chairperson Dr. Caryl Hart replied that, while she appreciated the naturists' public comments, "because of our priority to get our financial house in order, it will be some time before what you are proposing can be considered."
A few days prior, the legislature passed AB 1478, a bill which halted the proposed closure of 70 State Parks due to budget cuts, allocated most of the $54 million in unreported funds back to the Dept to use in maintenance of the parks in most need, and to match those donations collected by outside groups. It also set new requirements for the composition of the Commission itself, and requires them to now meet monthly (neither which was required previously).
The monthly Commission meetings will be split between Northern and Southern California, so when possible, it's important for all California naturists to stand up and make your voice heard at one of these meetings, whether personally, or by mail. We need to keep the issue of clothing-optional recreation in front of the Commission, even though we understand their priorities are understandably elsewhere at this point. It's also important for as wide a variety of naturist viewpoints to be expressed as possible, not the same few faces every meeting.
Freedom isn't free, or easy. It takes constant vigilance and work. If you want your beaches back, get up off your behind and make your voice heard. Please contact your local Naturist Action Committee (NAC) representative for more info on the upcoming meetings, and how to best voice your opinions and concerns at www.naturistaction.org
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