Customary Use and Our 30A Legacy

BACKFIRE
Please, do it all $ummer long.

Was the FBFA's Stand the Sand event (which ignored the required TDC Beach Permit) set up to escalate the conflict and generate more donations to pay for the FBFA's lawyers? I wonder if they also set up the beach banner just to raise more funds?

We must find a way to work together to decrease the conflict instead of escalating it even more. The BCC lawsuit against the private property owners may be in the court for 10 years before it is resolved, with more and more conflict (and money spent) every single day. What are we going to do for the next 10 years while this is in court?

Everyone used to talk about the "good ole days" of walking miles without seeing anyone else one the beach. Now everyone is talking about ghost chairs, litter, pollution, parking, mega rentals, entitlement behavior, and taking private property without payment "because it should not have been sold in the first place".

The root cause is more tourists than 30A can possible handle, which is destroying our sensitive ecosystem, and is a very RECENT issue. We need to first REDUCE the number of tourists that our infrastructure can handle. Look at what is happening to the number of turtles "false crawls" or the recent posts of people walking over nests that are roped off? Are we going to let the BCC fill in the Coastal Dune lakes so more Mega Rentals can be built? How many more sensitive wetlands and conservation areas are we going to lose so the BCC can turn them into housing developments?

We are so focused on arguing about Customary Use and Private Property Rights that we have lost sight that we are DESTROYING 30A, I am not talking about a destroying our "legacy", I am talking about PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION of 30A by too many people in an extremely sensitive ecosystem. Even if you took EVERY beach front private property, you would still have this problem if you don't manage the number of tourists.

This is a tourist density issue. All of the other issues are a direct result of that root issue. The State of Florida restricts the number of people allowed on a State Park at any one time. Even Hawaii is taking action to restrict tourists so something will be left for future generations. Why would we ever consider letting the BCC make 30A a free for all?

Maybe it is time to make 30A a toll road with Walton County Residents and tax payers getting a permit...

There is a difference between sticking to the issue and responding respectfully, and cyber bullying. I am assured that what has been going on here will not be allowed to continue. If your aim is to get banned and cry fowl then carry on.

The beachfront owners that have invaded recently in a coordinated campaign are not welcome here unless they can't post respectfully and without attacking people.

Why do you think you know my "aim" and that it is to "get banned"? What have I done to get banned for in your informed opinion?


Wow. BFOs have "invaded" South Walton and SoWal!? That's not conciliatory. Is inflammatory and seems like attack on people's motive. Then BFOs "are not welcome here unless they can't post respectfully and without attacking people." But you just attacked by accusing BFOs of "invading" too? Seems BMBV has a point.
Are you including this list of CU advocates that have attacked BFOs too? #493 Customary Use and Our 30A Legacy .

What issue would you like to stick to and respond to respectfully? How about if without CU South Walton will be a ghost town?
Or an outspoken repetitive CU claim that BMB owners quiet title of "public" (private) beach?

I am referring to the piling on persons by name. Two in particular. One of whom is not here to defend himself. Personal attacks. Against the rules. Attacking issues or even a fro8is totally different. The invasion is on this forum. Anyone can see it.
And I don't think calling you a snowflake is a personal attack.

"Piling on"? Invite anyone you know to come an defend their public forum or social media positions and statements if they feel "attacked" by credible facts or present alternative credible facts. I know of no one who is shy about using social media and speaking in a public forum that could not have a civil discourse in an open forum. Is there anyone who can not present credible facts to support their CU positions that feels piled up on?
Define how BFO "invaded" and what "snowflake" means because your definitions and intent escapes me and I'm guessing I'm not the only one who can't see it. Seems more like an attack on BFOs and not the issues. Educate us please.

I am referring to the piling on persons by name. Two in particular. One of whom is not here to defend himself. Personal attacks. Against the rules. Attacking issues or even a fro8is totally different. The invasion is on this forum. Anyone can see it.
And I don't think calling you a snowflake is a personal attack.

I ask again, is this really about behavior on the beaches? Or, is it about private property rights zealots pushing to exclude people from the beaches? Records are records; they can’t be altered or influenced. Has anyone looked back over the last 10 years to see how many complaints have occurred to the sheriff’s department or code enforcement from beachfront owners about behavior on the beaches? I know the answer. Do you?

Dave, let me give you an example: You own multiple restaurants. You cater to the public. In your restaurants, I imagine that you expect a certain level of decorum from your guests. You definitely have a maximum capacity. If, for whatever reason, your guests exceed your capacity, then they have to wait. If they become disruptive to your place of business or other clientele, but not to the point of criminal or illegal behavior, you have the right to intervene to correct the behavior, BUT.....if the behavior doesn't change, you have the right to ask them to leave and then get enforcement if they refuse. Seems fair to me. Also seems fair for BFO to have similar rights.

Not a great analogy. Can't compare a building full of eaters to millions of sun seekers that thousands of other businesses depend on. Beachfront is going to go to the "greater good" {money rules}.

OK, Fact Or Fiction appreciate your point it is density driven and the concern is that there’s too many people and too many variances given. That’s why I worked very hard for three years with amazing people I am now lifelong friends with and are on both sides of the aisle and even this issue. And I spent nearly $40,000 of my own money to rally support to incorporate South Walton but those worried about taxes going up crushed that opportunity to have local representation. And some others who don’t want any control over development had a considerable influence as well.

The thing that bothers me is that those who are here and have theirs are trying to say I’ve got mine and we don’t want anybody else. Well, that’s not the way it works. Special places attract people and the people who invariably come require infrastructure and accommodations where they want to recreate. I’ve said it 1 million times “these are the good old days for the people just now moving here.”. Like in any city rules are created and enforcement is essential. If people don’t follow the rules and they are not enforced then there is anarchy. No one wants that so yes, we have to hold a representative officials accountable. However, changing the rules so drastically that it eliminates large swaths of the very reason why people come here is not acceptable under any conditions. I was the first person to step up and offer solutions that actually were adopted. I engaged with beachfront owners to try to solve the problem but the die was cast and they wanted the whole apple and they currently have it. I truly believe that it’s temporary though.

I’m willing to sit down and work on solutions and I appreciate the fact that you addressed to me civilly without attacking me. By nature I’m an out-of-the-box thinker and a problem solver but this recent legislation in my book was yes, criminal and drastic and way out of line. So, how do we walk that back and restore our beaches to some semblance of shareable order? I’m wide-open to suggestions that don’t include excluding the public from using the sandy parts of the beaches as long as they follow the rules.

One thing we seem to agree on is that the vending of Beach Chairs in the current incarnation has greatly exacerbated the problem and no vending should be allowed on any county public beaches the way it is currently set up. If someone wants to go to a county public beach and call up a phone number and have someone deliver some chairs and an umbrella in no specified zone that should be allowed, but only that. The rest of the county public beaches should be wide open for anyone to set up anywhere they wish; First come first served.

As I’ve said before I acknowledge private property but as long as people behave correctly on beach private property and follow whatever rules the county adopts then this truly could be solved.

So again, To speak to your point those 4 million visitors can easily be educated; The TDC has plenty of money to educate people about the rules.

Do we really want Walton county to be the county in America that set the precedent that privatized beaches across the Nation? Or, do we want to be the beach community that figured it out and worked out a fair solution? The only thing I’ve been uncompromising about is the ability of beachfront owners to exclude people from the sandy parts of the beach. There’s plenty of compromise when it comes to setting up rules on those sandy parts.

So I feel like I’ve given you a reasonable and respectful answer that offer solutions. And again, I appreciate the tenor of your response to my comments.


Very best regards,

Dave Rauschkolb

OK, Fact Or Fiction appreciate your point it is density driven and the concern is that there’s too many people and too many variances given. That’s why I worked very hard for three years with amazing people I am now lifelong friends with and are on both sides of the aisle and even this issue. And I spent nearly $40,000 of my own money to rally support to incorporate South Walton but those worried about taxes going up crushed that opportunity to have local representation. And some others who don’t want any control over development had a considerable influence as well.

The thing that bothers me is that those who are here and have theirs are trying to say I’ve got mine and we don’t want anybody else. Well, that’s not the way it works. Special places attract people and the people who invariably come require infrastructure and accommodations where they want to recreate. I’ve said it 1 million times “these are the good old days for the people just now moving here.”. Like in any city rules are created and enforcement is essential. If people don’t follow the rules and they are not enforced then there is anarchy. No one wants that so yes, we have to hold a representative officials accountable. However, changing the rules so drastically that it eliminates large swaths of the very reason why people come here is not acceptable under any conditions. I was the first person to step up and offer solutions that actually were adopted. I engaged with beachfront owners to try to solve the problem but the die was cast and they wanted the whole apple and they currently have it. I truly believe that it’s temporary though.

I’m willing to sit down and work on solutions and I appreciate the fact that you addressed to me civilly without attacking me. By nature I’m an out-of-the-box thinker and a problem solver but this recent legislation in my book was yes, criminal and drastic and way out of line. So, how do we walk that back and restore our beaches to some semblance of shareable order? I’m wide-open to suggestions that don’t include excluding the public from using the sandy parts of the beaches as long as they follow the rules.

One thing we seem to agree on is that the vending of Beach Chairs in the current incarnation has greatly exacerbated the problem and no vending should be allowed on any county public beaches the way it is currently set up. If someone wants to go to a county public beach and call up a phone number and have someone deliver some chairs and an umbrella in no specified zone that should be allowed, but only that. The rest of the county public beaches should be wide open for anyone to set up anywhere they wish; First come first served.

As I’ve said before I acknowledge private property but as long as people behave correctly on beach private property and follow whatever rules the county adopts then this truly could be solved.

So again, To speak to your point those 4 million visitors can easily be educated; The TDC has plenty of money to educate people about the rules.

Do we really want Walton county to be the county in America that set the precedent that privatized beaches across the Nation? Or, do we want to be the beach community that figured it out and worked out a fair solution? The only thing I’ve been uncompromising about is the ability of beachfront owners to exclude people from the sandy parts of the beach. There’s plenty of compromise when it comes to setting up rules on those sandy parts.

So I feel like I’ve given you a reasonable and respectful answer that offer solutions. And again, I appreciate the tenor of your response to my comments.


Very best regards,

Dave Rauschkolb

I ask again, is this really about behavior on the beaches? Or, is it about private property rights zealots pushing to exclude people from the beaches? Records are records; they can’t be altered or influenced. Has anyone looked back over the last 10 years to see how many complaints have occurred to the sheriff’s department or code enforcement from beachfront owners about behavior on the beaches? I know the answer. Do you?

The only thing I’ve been uncompromising about is the ability of beachfront owners to exclude people from the sandy parts of the beach.

OK, Fact Or Fiction appreciate your point it is density driven and the concern is that there’s too many people and too many variances given.

However, changing the rules so drastically that it eliminates large swaths of the very reason why people come here is not acceptable under any conditions. I was the first person to step up and offer solutions that actually were adopted.

I’m willing to sit down and work on solutions and I appreciate the fact that you addressed to me civilly without attacking me. By nature I’m an out-of-the-box thinker and a problem solver but this recent legislation in my book was yes, criminal and drastic and way out of line. So, how do we walk that back and restore our beaches to some semblance of shareable order? I’m wide-open to suggestions that don’t include excluding the public from using the sandy parts of the beaches as long as they follow the rules.

As I’ve said before I acknowledge private property but as long as people behave correctly on beach private property and follow whatever rules the county adopts then this truly could be solved.

So again, To speak to your point those 4 million visitors can easily be educated; The TDC has plenty of money to educate people about the rules.

Do we really want Walton county to be the county in America that set the precedent that privatized beaches across the Nation? Or, do we want to be the beach community that figured it out and worked out a fair solution? The only thing I’ve been uncompromising about is the ability of beachfront owners to exclude people from the sandy parts of the beach. There’s plenty of compromise when it comes to setting up rules on those sandy parts.

So I feel like I’ve given you a reasonable and respectful answer that offer solutions. And again, I appreciate the tenor of your response to my comments.
Very best regards,
Dave Rauschkolb