Dateline: Wednesday morning, August 23, 2017 at Will Rogers State Beach. Today I observed a great deal of #beachtrash piled up intentionally by the Los Angeles County Dept. of Beaches & Harbors (LACDBH) at the tide line next to the jetty at lifeguard tower #7 AND next to the jetty at lifeguard tower #14.
As part of its beach cleaning operations, LACDBH uses tractors that tow rakes which drag through the sand picking up #beachtrash. At various points along the beach, LACDBH then dumps the contents collected in the rakes on the sand. LACDBH has apparently decided that a good spot to do this is at the tide line in front of lifeguard operations where both the public and beach lifeguards are very likely to encounter and step on all of this collected #beachtrash. In other words, LACDBH has increased the likelihood of injury from #beachtrash to both the public and to lifeguards.
The photos and videos below illustrate just how reckless and negligent this is and how it exposes L.A. County Fire Dept., Lifeguard Operations employees to hazardous materials. One lifeguard remarked to me that he was concerned a needle could be stepped on. Broken glass, sharp broken pieces of plastic plant debris, etc. also can be stepped on and cause injuries.
• Will Rogers Tower #7 Jetty & LACDBH #Beachtrash Dump At the Tide Line:
*** Video Alert ! ***
Will Rogers Tower #7 Jetty #BeachTrash Dump by LACDBH: The Video
https://youtu.be/I8XPx19_Ubo
• Additional #Beachtrash near the water's edge between Lifeguard Tower #8 and Tower #10 that remains uncollected and not disposed of by LACDBH today:
• Additional #Beachtrash near the water's edge between Lifeguard Tower #10 and Tower #14 that remains uncollected and not disposed of by LACDBH today:
• Will Rogers Tower #14 Jetty & LACDBH #Beachtrash Dump At the Tide Line:
Below, three lifeguards are conducting lifeguard training and must traverse this area filled with #beachtrash intentionally left behind by LACDBH and where its tractor dumped its load of collected #beachtrash from its towed rake... and at the tide line too... thus exposing the #beachtrash to the next high tide where it can be pulled into the ocean.
*** Video Alert ! ***
Will Rogers Tower #14 #Beachtrash Dump by LACDBH: The Video
https://youtu.be/8UHCMxnzxE0
It is sincerely hoped that LACDBH will clear away and dispose of this collected #beachtrash ASAP so that no one is injured and so that this #beachtrash is not pulled into the ocean by the next high tide. The collection and disposal of #beachtrash should not increase the risk of injury to the public and to beach lifeguards.
Additionally, the collected #beachtrash in the rakes attached to the tractors should NOT be dumped near the water's edge. Such #beachtrash should be driven to the back of the beach and deposited where it is less likely to be stepped on by the public and first responders. It defies logic and common sense to dump loads of #beachtrash near the water's edge and forward of lifeguard operations.
Respectfully submitted,
William Maguire,
Attorney at law, and
Concerned citizen
(All photos and videos by & Copyright William Maguire 2017.)
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