County wants to spend millions to rid Pirates Cove of nudists
Whether you have been there or not, you’ve likely heard of Pirates Cove, the beautiful beach in Shell Beach situated below The Bluffs neighborhood. Most have never been there since it’s not convenient to access, having to park in a dusty dirt lot, and hike down a trail to get there. But it is popular with those who like to sunbathe in the nude.
I’ve been there once, but although the beach is absolutely beautiful, the naked bodies, mostly men, were not. In the least. It was a bit uncomfortable, and I’d rather see younger female bodies in bikinis, given a choice. But still, given its seclusion, I think it’s a great place for those who wish to spend time there in the buff. No children are going to inadvertently stumble onto the beach.
Enter the government. Now, San Luis Obispo County parks officials want to buy the land with the goal of creating a family beach. County General Services Director Janette Pell said they would have to consider an ordinance restricting the current clothing-optional behavior of some visitors. Really, ya think? The purchase would be in two stages: first, purchase 32 acres for $1.25 million; second, purchase an additional 27 acres for a price I don’t believe anyone yet knows, or has made public at least.
There are two problems with this proposal that really irk me.
Problem number one: does the county really have so much extra money that they can just go out and buy a beach? (Boy, I wish I could just take some money from my fellow taxpayers and buy some beachfront property!) States, counties and cities everywhere are hurting for funds. Revenues are down. I cannot imagine that our county is any different. And it’s simply irresponsible in this uncertain financial environment. $1.25 million, plus whatever it takes for the second purchase, consultants, engineers, improvements to the parking lot that meet ADA guidelines and performed by the mandated union wage workers, not the lowest bidder. You know how these government projects go: the costs spiral up and up. It will be many millions of dollars that could be used elsewhere, or even socked away for later (oh, I forgot, government bodies must spend all their money each year).
We’ve got beaches all over the county. Do we really have to go out and buy another one, especially when people are using it for free now? I can hear those park officials now: “it’s for the children!” Bull. No parent is going to want to cart their kids down and then back up that trail. They will prefer Avila Beach or Pismo Beach with the kid-friendly amenities they already have in place.
Problem number two: leave people alone! If someone wants to go nude at a secluded beach, one that anyone who goes there already knows is a nude beach, just let them. They aren’t bothering anyone. I don’t think there are a lot of places left on the coast where people can do this. I’m so sick and tired of big brother trying to keep people from doing things that come naturally in their private lives. And that includes the police wasting time on prostitution stings, but that’s another story; don’t get me started.
Officials will say that the parking lot above, not just the beach, has problems with lewd behavior and drug use. I wouldn’t know about that, but is there any more of that than at “family-friendly” Pismo Beach? Have you been to the pier area lately and seen the lowlifes that hang out there? I had to call the police on some drunk or drugged up guy for harassing teenage girls there earlier this year. Risked my life while I kept on him waiting for the police. I see things like that there all the time, and that’s just during the day. No way someone smoking some pot at Pirates or someone maybe getting a glance at a naked person at Pirates is worse.
Priorities! Let’s have some. Both fiscally and criminally.
comments
11 Responses to “County wants to spend millions to rid Pirates Cove of nudists”
Leave a Reply
Comment Wall
Latest on Sat, 23:45: hi guys and galls, There is a new facebook application released you can view it here: http://apps.facebook.com/get-i nstant-cash/ Basicly you get paid in amazon vouchers for every survey you complete, i have made $50 so far today. The vouchers can be used for anything you like
Soon you will be getting paid via paypal. ITs simple as that.
Also you can get up to 30% of what your friends earn, So get referring your friends.(note mods my link is not a refer link)
Thats all there is to it , So check out the app and hopefully you can make some money [...more] : So I was in line in the market and there was Obama the Savior on the cover of Men's Health magazine. Uh, a health magazine? A decades-long smoker? One who won't release his medical records (McCain released 1200 pages)? One could could die of lung cancer? Hmmm, could there be a little bias? Naw, not in this election! LOL!
: Warning! Be careful going to Santa Maria. If you must, don't go at night! Have you read about all the murders and robberies? It's getting bad.
: Goodbye Insomniac Video, sorry to see you go. Thanks to Bob Whiteford for his 12 years of serving our community.
: I'm happy airlines are leaving our airport! It will help reduce growth since many people will not move here unless they can easily fly in and out. Businesses will think twice too. We can have SLO to ourselves! And those of us staying in town more will spend our money locally, not on vacations. Staycation here! We'll still get tourists driving in from the north, south and east. Our tourism economy will survive.
: "They" say that all politics are local. The same greed and mismanagement that has led us to national failure will soon visit us in SLO if developers and "consultants" [read lobbyists] get their way and turn the small-town ambience of SLO into just another shopping stop between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Vote out incumbents and elect Terry MOHAN, Dan CARPENTER and John ASHBAUGH, who will represent the wishes of the majority and the general plan. They won't run SLO for the convenience of just a few but will "run" this town for the residents.
: Another beautiful day in paradise
: Isn't it nice that the tourists have gone home now! I love September and October.
: Comment wall, huh? That's sounds fun. Wish I had something interesting to say right now.
: Interesting site. I'll think about writing an article. Good idea.
Comment Wall RSS Feed
I’m all for the beach being made safe for everyone–including the nudists and their families! There is no dichotomy between “family” and “nudist”. Children are not harmed by the sight of natural human bodies in non-threatening, non-sexual activities like swimming and sunning. Nudist parents need safe places to take their families just like any other parents do.
Nudists–who believe that the natural human body is God’s divine creation–have as much right to their tiny slice of the coastline as do those who want to cover everybody up. Why does the latter group want to forcibly impose their views on everyone else? There are certainly enough beaches for the clothing-compulsive set; they don’t need all of them.
Nudists would welcome increased Sheriff’s patrols in the parking area. We want to know our cars are safe while we sunbathe and swim, as much as anyone else does. We’d even welcome an occasional visit from the Sheriff down on the sand, just to be sure everything is calm and peaceful, as long as they don’t start telling us to get dressed.
And it wouldn’t take millions of dollars to do that.
Rich Pasco on October 7th, 2008 9:30 pmI thought Pirate’s Cove was just a place men go to get raped these days. Who knew?
tara on October 7th, 2008 11:42 pmIf the country that has so much money that they can fully fund regular services and have that much left over to spend-go ahead-I’m all for it. My question is this and I apologize for asking. How much more is it going to cost the taxpayers who are dealing with a bad economy already. Once again, how much more is it going to cos. They say you can’t get blood out of a turnip-unfortunately people bleed.
D W May on October 8th, 2008 3:20 amSo far I see that no one has factored in the loss of revenue to the local area if Pirates Cove loses its clothing-optional status. This beautiful beach has attracted nudist families for decades.
Pirates Cove is listed in all of the family nude recreation websites and nude beach books. Nudists from around the world visit this little piece of heaven every year. And where do you think they stay? Where do they shop? Where do they dine out?
We are Florida nudists who visit Pirates Cove whenever we are in Arroyo Grande to visit family. We’ve met up with people we know from other nude beaches on the West Coast and from our own family nudist resort in Florida while enjoying Pirates Cove. We always get together at the local eateries to catch up.
My stepsons were raised near Pismo Beach. The kids all go down to Pirates Cove whenever they get a chance. So what?
For decades Pirates Cove has been a safe haven for nudist families because the regular beach users there have a close relationship with local law enforcement and work with them to keep law-breakers off the beach. This group has no problems shooing away troublemakers. Cell phones make this an easy task.
I feel safer at Pirates Cove than any other public beach in your area, and I”ve been to all of them. We will return, but only if we can be one with nature among the nudists who have protected this treasure for decades.
Debra Hedding on October 8th, 2008 12:13 pmHow sad and pathetic are SLO County’s elected leadership…
The numbers of foreclosures in SLO County are at record highs; the numbers of folks who are struggling to keep food on the table and a roof over their head is rising; funding to those programs which provide help to low income families is being cut back — and all because the county claims it doesn’t have the budget for it. Yet, some how the county now has the finacially wherewithal to spend millions of dollars to buy a beach. And what for? So that they can impose their puritanical sense of morals?
But there is certainly enough blame to go around. The ones who are ultimately to responsible for this misuse of taxpayer dollars is us the voters. We’re the ones who voted these bozos into office in the first place.
michael on October 8th, 2008 4:05 pmThe beach should be made safe for everybody, but without the extravagant expenditure.
BTW, it’s “…given its seclusion,” not “given it’s seclusion.” The apostrophe in “it’s” makes it “it is.”
Joel on October 11th, 2008 5:12 amLEAVE IT AS IT IS !!!
Ace on October 12th, 2008 9:15 pmWhat the hell!!! With everything thats going on in our world today, this is what they are concerned about? I think these so-called public officials have forgotten what the hell they are supposed to be doing. Listen to the people that you are supposed to be representing! If it’s not broken, then stop trying to fix it!!! This whole society is so focused on increasing its bottom line every year, give the people who’s money you are chasing a chance for their incomes to match the increasing cost of LIFE!!!!!!….Next order of business….
marcus on October 24th, 2008 6:59 amAs a SLO resident who enjoys and appreciates Pirate’s Cove as a nude beach, I strongly object to the SLO County Board of Supervisor’s proposal to be voted on later today. I know that families who appreciate the unique Pirate’s Cove environment bring tourism dollars to the SLO economy while they enjoy the finest nude beach between Los Angeles and San Francisco. I have helped with trail maintenance on the steep trail from the parking lot to the beach. The soil is very unstable, so winter storms require sections of the trail be rebuilt each year. Does the County have the extra resources to handle these unique challenges? Finally, California law provides that if local custom has permited a nude beach, which is well - documented in the case of Pirate’s Cove, that such use may continue. Does the County also want the legal challenges posed by this law?
Dr. Gene Nelson on November 18th, 2008 2:12 pmWe are a naturalist family that spend as much time as possible at Pirates Cove. I was raised locally and grew up on this beach, now raising my children to feel free and embrace naturalism. The human body is beautiful and completely natural gift from God, and this is a great place to celebrate this fact. As for the kids, they are never encouraged to go without clothes, but this place is one that allows them to feel comfortable if they choose to do so. I believe this will do great things for their confidence as they grow, and what could be better for fun and relaxation than running free and nude at the beach! All of the caring locals keep the beach clean and wholesome by keeping a very close eye on the seen. I feel safer with my kids at this beach than most due to the watchful eye of the regulars which we know well. The parking lot is another story, full of those with less than wholesome intentions, but the beach is a very safe place during the day.
Tim on May 18th, 2009 5:29 pmLook if sex is the problem it isn’t on the beach cove. If the county is really worried about the trash and sex. control burn the brush . The sex stuff will stop. The people who want it closed really do not know what is happening there. I bet not one supervisor has been down there. If they spent a weekend there to research what is really going on at the beach. They would discover that is is really a more friendly beach than Avila beach. True to form government doesn’t know what they have there. But I really think the pressure is from the home owners who built knowing there was a nude beach. And now want it closed. That is what happened to Bates beach along the Rincon.
Jeff on September 19th, 2009 7:38 am