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rpannier

(24,329 posts)
Sun Apr 3, 2016, 08:03 PM Apr 2016

Lunada Bay Boys: California surfers take out class action lawsuit against local gang

* I am curious if I can refer to the Lunada Bay Boys as thugs or does their race or economic status disqualify them? Some people dispute they can even be a gang. Read on...*

Lunada Bay, an out-of-the-way cove on the Palos Verdes peninsula south of Los Angeles, is one of the best big-wave surfing spots in California. In the shelter of its steep, semi-circular cliffs are a pristine beach and the promise of 20-foot winter swells. And, unlike so many other prime breaks on the US west coast, its waves are miraculously uncrowded.

That’s because anyone who wants to surf there must first get past the Lunada Bay Boys, an infamous local surfing clique known routinely to chase off outsiders with threats, harassment and, in some cases, violence. At the top of the dirt path that leads down to the beach, the Bay Boys once posted a sign that warned: “Unlocals will be hassled.”

snip

Contrary to the image of a typical LA gang, the Bay Boys are largely white and affluent, like their Lunada Bay neighbours. Among the 100 or more members of the group are firemen and school-teachers, said Vic Otten, the lawyer who filed the suit. “What’s really shocking,” he added, “is that in many cases these are men in their 50s and 60s.”

snip

Recently, the California Coastal Commission demanded local officials crack down on the gang for restricting access to what is supposedly a public beach, and urged them to either approve the clubhouse as a public space, or tear it down. The Palos Verdes authorities have been accused of spinelessness and even complicity in their attitude to the Bay Boys.

link:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/lunada-bay-boys-california-surfers-take-out-class-action-lawsuit-against-local-gang-a6966861.html

Yep.. mostly white, male, in their 40's, 50's and 60's. Their apologists claim they can't be gang, the police do nothing because they're not violent enough, the Lunada Bat Boys admit they harass people, included is at least one documented case of sexual harassment (in the story) and they harass children (a 10 year old boy)
Would be curious how faux spews, cnn and the rest of them would classify these overaged, alcoholic, miscreants?

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Lunada Bay Boys: California surfers take out class action lawsuit against local gang (Original Post) rpannier Apr 2016 OP
i applaud their lawsuit hopemountain Apr 2016 #1
I grew up in Redondo Beach until I was 7 rpannier Apr 2016 #2
Come to New Jersey where there are very few public, free beaches. Hoppy Apr 2016 #5
heh shanti Apr 2016 #6
Gidget movies misled us... joeybee12 Apr 2016 #3
Very true rpannier Apr 2016 #4
Video expose for the win. Show the thugs harrasing, then show them at their jobs. Pressure employers TeamPooka Apr 2016 #12
I don't surf there, not because of the attitude, but because of the possible damage to my van. denbot Apr 2016 #7
Very cool wheels! Avalon Sparks Apr 2016 #8
Thanks n/t denbot Apr 2016 #10
El Porto's a nice place to surf tenderfoot Apr 2016 #9
Younger Great Whites are pretty common here. denbot Apr 2016 #11
Man, I like Vanagons for sure, but... Desert805 Apr 2016 #13
My wife and I think it was a Hobie Cat Promo. denbot Apr 2016 #14
It ius a nice looking van rpannier Apr 2016 #19
It's an 86'. n/t denbot Apr 2016 #20
Fuck Locals. (n/t) Iggo Apr 2016 #15
Gosh, Brian Wilson never wrote about that. nt raccoon Apr 2016 #16
Ugh. So much of the world's beaches are fenced off for the wealthy, as it is. HuckleB Apr 2016 #17
They are thugs and vigilantes, like George Zimmerman. n/t pnwmom Apr 2016 #18
Surf Nazis must die was a movie I saw once, Throckmorton Apr 2016 #21

hopemountain

(3,919 posts)
1. i applaud their lawsuit
Sun Apr 3, 2016, 08:22 PM
Apr 2016

there is a very real abuse of coastal access rights for all citizens up and down the coast. i hope a ruling in favor of the public and surfers against the 'lundada bay boys' sets a precedence for open beach access. at this time citizens are blocked from countless traditional beach access by privates security, locked gates, and other illegal means - bullies included.

rpannier

(24,329 posts)
2. I grew up in Redondo Beach until I was 7
Sun Apr 3, 2016, 08:34 PM
Apr 2016

I lived several blocks from the beach
We went there a lot and never had any issues
The self-important, immature, I own everything of some people is just exasperating and disgusting
I hope they win the lawsuit as well
I also hope the courts slam the local police force for not doing their job
And the local gov't gets slammed equally hard for violating an order from the California Coastal Commission
People may argue that it's not fair to the community, but it seems like the community is just ignoring it

I'd be curious as to what the local police chief thinks is 'violent enough' behavior to warrant him doing his job

shanti

(21,675 posts)
6. heh
Sun Apr 3, 2016, 09:11 PM
Apr 2016

there are probably LEO that surf there too, and want to keep it closed. otherwise, i don't see how a bunch of jerks can keep doing this for so long without being censored.

 

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)
3. Gidget movies misled us...
Sun Apr 3, 2016, 08:43 PM
Apr 2016

These sort of behavior and violence has been going on for a long time along the California shoreline. At least 40 years...these 60-year-olds were probably goons in their teens also.

rpannier

(24,329 posts)
4. Very true
Sun Apr 3, 2016, 08:50 PM
Apr 2016

In the article on person describes having been harassed by surfers in the late 60's
I still think a lot of it has to do with their race and economics.
They're white and have probably always been solid middle class or higher on the socioeconomic scale, so they have influence and contacts
The story states that some members of the Lunada Boys are firemen and teachers. I would not be surprised if there are a few police officers, doctors and maybe a lawyer or two in their little club

TeamPooka

(24,221 posts)
12. Video expose for the win. Show the thugs harrasing, then show them at their jobs. Pressure employers
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 04:34 AM
Apr 2016

denbot

(9,899 posts)
7. I don't surf there, not because of the attitude, but because of the possible damage to my van.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 01:23 AM
Apr 2016

The wave there is one of the best in So Cal, and the locals are free to hassle anyone they want without worrying that the sheriffs will put them in check. I can handle the threat, or even actual physical violence, as I can give as well as I get.

I don't surf there because there because it is more likely my vehicle would be heavily vandalized while I'm down the cliffs and in the water. I like my little surf buggy too much to see her abused by a bunch of local dipshits.

This is my baby just north of Palos Verde (Lunada Bay is located there), in her home away from home, a stretch of beach known as El Porto, my local surf break.

[IMG][/IMG]

tenderfoot

(8,426 posts)
9. El Porto's a nice place to surf
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:09 AM
Apr 2016

though a friend spotted a great white there last year. I enjoy "Kooks Cove" aka Sunset Beach as well.

denbot

(9,899 posts)
11. Younger Great Whites are pretty common here.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:18 AM
Apr 2016

It is not unusual to see 7-8 footers swimming around. I've had a close encounter (non aggressive) with a 9'+ plus there a couple of years ago..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018627776

denbot

(9,899 posts)
14. My wife and I think it was a Hobie Cat Promo.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 10:43 AM
Apr 2016

It's actually a Vanagon Syncro, the all wheel/4x4 version.

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