Haulover Inlet Beach Accessway

Given the global nature of the internet and the fact that only about 10 people visit this site (or any of my other sites, for that matter), I tend to shy away from talking about anything local to the Miami area simply because nobody tends to give a damn. But this is different.

In case I have not mentioned previously, I am a member of the Surfrider Foundation. I have been for many many years.

For anyone not familiar, Surfrider exists to protect access to, and safeguard and improve the quality of the beaches and oceans where surfers dwell. Interestingly enough, it appears there may also be some sort of “aquatic creatures” dwelling in those waters, also in need of protection from the things of man.

Here in Miami, it’s hard enough to find anywhere to surf to begin with (other than during the hurricanes, when you have to dodge flying air conditioners).* That task is made infinitely harder as more and more large scale developments have been put up along the beach, preventing access to the water across their “private beaches.” One such cocksucker condo developer, WCI Communities, is one of the largest and most powerful development companies in the country, with establishments in southwest Florida, southeast Florida, Jacksonville Beach, and in the northeast U.S.

Six months ago, it was learned that WCI surreptitiously, and illegally, closed off parking and beach access to one of the only remaining public beaches with a decent surf break, located in Bal Harbour (just north of Miami Beach). After Surfrider members Steve Sprechman and KC Cohen reported this violation, Surfrider jumped into action and uncovered that Bal Harbour Village and the cocksuckers condo developers had indeed broken the law with these closures.

The activism of Surfrider members resulted in portions of the parking being returned to the public and a temporary beach access path being created, but this fight isn’t over. WCI and the Village have fought against proper enforcement of State Law every step of the way and THEY ARE STILL NOT IN COMPLIANCE. Currently, surfers, fishermen and beach-goers must walk over ½ a mile across 4 lanes of traffic between parking and the surf zone. More importantly, WCI and the Village are conspiring to permanently reduce parking capacity in the area. WE MUST CONTINUE THE FIGHT to ensure Florida ’s rapid coastal development doesn’t erode the public’s ability to access the beach.

The local South Florida Surfrider chapter has created two easy action steps that interested people can do to help fight the cause.

FIRST, send an ACTION ALERT LETTER! Help raise awareness about the problems at Bal Harbour by sending our new Florida Governor and several other prominent public officials an electronic letter. The simple act of sending a letter can do so much to open doors and bring about change but WE NEED EVERY MEMBER AND FRIEND OF SFL SURFRIDER TO SEND A LETTER. Help Steve and KC finish this fight, it takes less than 2 minutes, link through to Surfrider’s website and SEND YOUR LETTER NOW!

SECOND, if you’re here in Miami, COME SEE A SURF FLICK! In order to raise the funds needed to continue our campaign for beach access at Haulover, Surfrider is hosting a special public screening of the visual masterpiece “Sipping Jetstreams” on Friday, January 26th at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. Join Surfrider and the rest of the South Florida surf community for a fun filled evening of exotic surf entertainment, food, drinks & raffle prizes; fun for all ages. Buy your tickets now at Brown Bag Tickets.com and help Surfrider protect your local waters, waves and beaches.

Use these links to learn more about the Surfrider Foundation and the South Florida Chapter.

* True story, by the way. I was out surfing on South Beach last year during Katrina and a huge refrigeration unit got blown off the top of one of these monstrous condos and landed in the water about 10 feet from me. I paddled in soon thereafter.