"LONG BEACH: Sink the Breakwater, Restore the Shore!
"Sink the Breakwater, Restore the Shore," has been the outcry for many Long Beach residents for several years now in reference to the 2+ mile eastern breakwater wall located just several miles off the Long Beach, CA coast. The wall is believed by some to be the sole cause of some of Long Beach's now waveless beaches and less than swimmable waters in some sections as debris and water bacteria aren't being naturally flushed away by circulating tides and currents.
Heated debates, rallies and demonstrations in support and against the breakwater removal or reconfiguration is nothing new to Long Beach residents. But with both the bad economy and down home prices, there appears to be a revival of sorts as support of the breakwater removal gains momentum in the hopes of bringing waves back to Long Beach while simultaneously increasing tourism, jobs and increased home values in the area!
"PADDLE OUT IN MEMORY OF WAVES IN LONG BEACH"
One of the more recently publicized events "Paddle Out in Memory of Waves in Long Beach" was held this past Saturday May 22 in support of bringing waves back to Long Beach as well as the breakwater study and possible breakwater reconfiguration.
I beheld a rare sight when over 40 surfers consisting of male, female and child, along with local residents and Councilman Patrick O'Donnell held a dramatic memorial eulogizing the past waves of Long Beach, CA. This event was also an attempt to bring awareness to the current breakwater study now being conducted by local gov't agencies and engineers to see what harm, if any, would come in removing or reconfiguring the Long Beach breakwater.
SUPPORT vs. OPPOSITION
The supporters of the reconfiguration or removal highlight interesting benefits and breakwater facts as to why the removal or reconfiguration should take place. Although at one time the wall was built to protect the U.S. Pacific Fleet once stationed at the now defunct Long Beach naval base, we clearly are no longer in danger of any rogue torpedoes headed our way. The Long Beach chapter of the Surfrider foundation detail their breakwater issues as well and want to see Long Beach restored to the glory it once had prior to the breakwater being built. According to a June 2008 L.A. Times article regarding Long Beach, "Early surfers ranked the city's beaches among the best for surf in Southern California, and the city hosted the first National Surfing and Paddleboard Championships in 1938." A surfing contest was once held in Long Beach? Several historical surf and coastal articles offer similar accounts as well of Long Beach once being one of Southern California's most popular surfing destinations drawing hundreds to thousands to our coast yearly. 
It is the general consensus of proponents that those opposed to the breakwater removal mostly consist of animal rights activists who do not want to see the disruption of sea life that call the breakwater home and the handful of homeowners living on or near the most southeastern sections closest to the peninsula. Their fear being among other things, that with stronger waves beach erosion is most likely to occur and the possibility of catastrophic flooding during El Nino-like seasons. This concern, if valid, is not one the city can easily afford to sweep under the seaweed. So far, there's been very little evidence produced to legitimize the aforementioned.
"The rich should sacrifice their homes for Long Beach..."
There has to be a compromise. For some to simply shrug their shoulders and insinuate "the rich should sacrifice their homes for Long Beach" as stated by one Facebooker on a popular Long Beach Facebook page, is a cavalier request at best. Can we so coldly and easily discount the possible blood, sweat and tears that went in to accumulating the home in the first place? A home where kids and grandkids grew up and made memories similar to those made in middle and lower class family homes? But on 
the flip side of that, "to hold the entire city hostage" as quoted by 4th generation Long Beach resident Andy Filkins would also appear to be a non-option for Long Beach as a whole as well.
At this point, as an entire city we have no choice but to find a RESPONSIBLE and suitable compromise. In the meantime, was seeing a R.I.P. wreath thrown out into sea along with flowers memoralizing the death of Long Beach waves a little melodramatic? Maybe. But seeing residents cheer for over 40 local surfers who paddled out, gathered in a colorful board circle to hold hands and have a moment of silence for our city's waves - PRICELESS!
To view the entire "Paddle Out in Memory of Waves" photo album please visit our Long Beach CA Events page for updates and new Long Beach CA events!
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