Thanks for the replies. I see both sides... somewhat. I believe beaches should stay open to all as a public good. Yet, we’ve been visiting for years (before the post BP Settlement boom starting in 2011) and I see how entitled, rude, and messy the tourists have become. I’m a tourist too, but have seen nasty behavior lately. I mean, we saw a couple storm out of the Cowgirl Kitchen Bar in May because the bartender couldn’t specify what kind of spicy ranch was being used.
I hesitate to bring up California but in many areas the homes are built across the street/highway from the beach with mitigates some of this. Horse is obviously out of the barn already on this but over the years we’ve all watched the McMansions block even a sliver of a view of the water from 30a. It’s not like that in Santa Monica, Venice, Dana Point, etc. They leave it wide and open for all...and don’t get me started on the beach vendor situation- from the outside looking in, it’s just gobsmaking that’s allowed on public beaches.
Interesting debate of the needs of the many vs. the needs of the few. Cheers!