Stories and Letters to the Editor
Related to Unleash the Beach and Issues of Concern to Dog Guardians (most recent listed first)
Newsworthy Events and Announcements
August 9, 2005 Just a short note during the dog days of summer. Unleash
The Beach, is now in the process of becoming non profit organization
501c3, and all donations from the past 18 months may be counted as tax
deductible. We are being represented by Loeb & Loeb law
firm for our papers. Ian Landgreen is our representative, and also now
our secretary. A few people who have done many hours of volunteer
work during the year have stepped up to a term on the board of
directors: Gary Cadish, Susan DiRende, Bruce Favish, Risa Freeman,
Gerald Jones, Michelle Jones, and myself. We welcome others to
step up and help with the efforts too. Anyone who is versed
in law, science or local politics is especially welcome. Please
let us know if you have any of these skills and are willing to
brainstorm with us.
It has been over a year since we started Unleash the Beach with
our rally last summer. Since then, we have won support from many
local representatives and increased our email lists to well over 800
active members. We have 100 names of volunteers who have committed
themselves to be beach cleaners and monitors one hour per week during
our pilot program. We have attracted a few sponsors. We have
participated in dozens of commissions and meetings regarding various
aspects of getting a dog beach pilot program.
The way we see it, moving forward will be a three thronged
approach: 1) Environmental: we are investigating ways to
prove to the naysayers that in exchange for a pilot dog beach, our group
of responsible dog owner/guardians will actually enhance the quality of
the beach. 2) Security: we are putting together
plans to assure that the beach is run in a manner that is safe and
secure for all. 3) And this is the biggest one:
we are delving into the world of our legal rights as citizens, as
residents entitled to use part of the state beach for our recreational
needs.
Additionally, when we have put together a clear encompassing
proposal, we will fundraise. We will be able to use the talents of
anyone who is good at this, or wants to be, and willing to roll up
your sleeves. I am sure when there is a light at the end of the
tunnel, many will step forward in support.
Enjoy the rest of your summer. I envision seeing us all on the
beach with our pups in the coming year.
April
29, 2005
Unleash
The Beach has hundreds of responsible dog owners who are willing to keep
the beach clean, to monitor, and to raise funds in order to help
establish a pilot program. As
the late Mike Gordon said, “dog owners deserve an opportunity to show they can
responsibly enjoy off-leash recreational activities.”
As Al Donner of US Fish and Wildlife Service has said,
"We’re in the business of building partnerships with people.”
Now is the time for our city to take a stand with us.
One
of the main concerns about a dog beach in Santa Monica early on was the
fear that it would be wildly popular and thus overrun, since there are
no other dog beaches in northern Los Angeles County.
Dockweiler
Beach in El Segundo, has recently been promoted as a pilot dog beach in
the state legislature. Ron Schafer, also the district superintendent for
that area, raises all the same objections to that beach, but he is being
overruled. Dockweiler has
already been unanimously approved by the
Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife and the
Appropriations Committee. It
has passed with a huge majority in the Assembly and is on its way to the
Senate in 2006 for the second time. This will be a mile
long beach that will accommodate Los Angelenos and their dogs.
By
comparison, the Santa Monica Dog Beach that we have proposed would be a
smaller, boutique beach. It
will only be one tenth the size of Dockweiler, and as we propose it, it
will require a special beach license.
In order to get the license, one must prove one’s dog is
vaccinated and registered, and one must sign a waiver of liability.
One must also pay a fee. We
propose to raise the funds to have the storm drain cleaned more often at
the site, which would definitely improve the quality of the water.
We also propose to partner with the Marine Mammal Rescue by
sharing our signage with educational notices about what to do if one
encounters a beached marine mammal.
The license fees will aid in the implementing of beach monitors.
We
know the dog beach will be a great asset and amenity to the Santa Monica
Beach. A pilot program will test this for all to see.
Thank
you for your help in seeing this through in a timely manner.
We have done our homework and now we look to you.
Sincerely,
Georja
Umano Jones
President,
Unleash The Beach
April 18, 2005:
On the third official meeting regarding the dog
beach, the Task Force has voted overwhelmingly to give the go ahead to the
City Council regarding the dog beach if certain requirements will be met.
These include daily water monitoring with zero tolerance for water quality
impacts, no significant impacts to any animal life, adequate bags and trash
receptacles, and that it be structured to minimize fiscal impact on other
environmental programs.
With great appreciation to all the volunteers who helped to research negative
claims that were made and present the facts, kudos to: Mary Hubbel, Susan
DiRende, Gary Cadish, Elaine Gervasi, Risa Freeman, Ian Landgreen, Alan Krugel,
Joy Oaks, Bruce Favish, and Georja Umano. This is a great omen towards
encouraging the City Council to find a way around the contrary position of our
State District Superintendent of Parks and Recreations, Ron Schafer. We will
be submitting a written refutation of his letter to our city officials.
Concurrently, congratulations to our sister group Freeplay. The legislative
bill of Mike Gordon to establish a pilot dog beach at Dockweiler has passed
the state assembly and is now being viewed in the State Senate!!!!!
A lot of work remains, including major fundraising to set up these programs,
but the momentum is with us (as well as the force?) We are definitely on the
road to success!!!!
March 30, 2005: Mike Gordon’s legislation to implement a pilot off-leash dog beach at Dockweiler, AB359, sailed through the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife unanimously! (They have the same state district superintendent as SM.) Legislation would supersede anything a district superintendent might say. There are still a few committees to go.
January 11, 2005: Tonight we scored a terrific victory for
Unleash The Beach and dog lovers everywhere! The Santa Monica City
Council has approved
a motion for the City Staff to work with Unleash The Beach in
implementing a pilot program for a dog beach on the Santa Monica shore!!!
Congratulations to everyone who has volunteered and put positive
energy into the campaign! Special thanks to all who came to the City Council meeting and waited patiently until our item finally came
up. Many of you were prepared to speak up for the cause. Since we were advised at the last minute it was better to keep our numbers
down, many of you also graciously bowed out. What a great team.
Everyone was brilliant. And thanks to all those who wrote so many
letters, too!
This is only the beginning. We are starting the process of
forming a nonprofit organization and will need the participation and
support of many people to be the smashing success we know we can be.
Already 56 people have signed a list to volunteer to monitor and if
necessary clean the beach one hour per week during the pilot program.
Anyone who can add their name to that list, please write in and include
your phone number. If you
have time and a burning desire to work with me and the city staff,
please let us know that too.
On another positive note, we also did a presentation to the
executives of the Chamber of Commerce. They received our report very positively as well and will address it at their next general
meeting.
We would like to get their support in a big way, especially since
making Santa Monica more dog friendly will definitely add to the economy of the city. We would like to get their help in
sponsoring a contest to find a great name for our soon-to-be new
world-class dog beach!
June 12, 2004: The kickoff meeting of Unleash the Beach was held on Saturday, in the Community Room at Joslyn Park. Mayor pro tem Kevin McKeown attended and kindly expressed his support.
News Stories
"Arnold Drops Plan to Kill Stray Pets in 72 Hours," Salt Lake Tribune, June 26, 2004
"It's a Dog-Need-Park World: SM Should Loosen the Leash," by Carole Orlin in Common Sense (Opinion), Santa Monica Daily Press, Monday, June 21, 2004, p. 5
"'Unleash the Beach' Group Wants Off-Leash Dog Zone," The Argonaut, June 17, 2004, p. 40
"Dog Beach Advocates Prepare for Big Push," by Kevin Allardice, Santa Monica Mirror, June 16-22, 2004
"Heel the Bay: Visions of a Dog-Friendly Beach No Joke," by John Wood, Santa Monica Daily Press, Tuesday, June 15, 2004, front page
"Unleash the Beach Needs Help to Make Dog Beach a Reality," Pet Press, June-July, 2004
"Tails of the City: Little Dogs Have Their Day," by Kathleen Herd Masser, Santa Monica Mirror, May 5-11, 2004
Letters to the Editor
"Dog Owners Promise to Pick Up," Martin Senat (Huntington Dog Beach), Santa Monica Daily Press, July 2, 2004, p. 7
"Give the Beach to the Dogs," Daryl Barnett (Dog Beach Now), Santa Monica Daily Press, July 2, 2004, p. 7
"The Beach Is No Place for a Dog," Santa Monica Daily Press, June 29, 2004
"Give the Dogs Their Day," Georja Umano Jones (Unleash the Beach), Santa Monica Daily Press, June 28, 2004, p. 7
"The Q-Line: Dog-Day Afternoons Not for Everyone," Santa Monica Daily Press, June 26-27, 2004
"The Q-Line," Santa Monica Daily Press, June 22, 2004
"Leash the Rhetoric," Michelle Jones (Santa Monica), Santa Monica Daily Press, Weekend Edition, June 19-20, 2004, p. 4
"Are You Gonna Bark All Day, Little Doggy?" Henry Rosenfeld (Santa Monica), Santa Monica Daily Press, Weekend Edition, June 19-20, 2004, p. 4
"Kibbles and Bits of Encouragement," Jeff Goodman (Santa Monica), Santa Monica Daily Press, Thursday, June 17, 2004, p. 4
"Foaming at the Mouth," Don Johnson (Venice Beach), Santa Monica Daily Press, Thursday, June 17, 2004, p. 4