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No, Crowded Beaches And Trails Do Not Equal ‘Social Distancing’
People walk on the beach 20 minutes after Gov. Newson ordered people to stay home last week. Some local beaches and trails reportedly remained busy through the weekend despite the orders. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
The sun was out this weekend, and so were the people — in spite of broad stay-at-home orders from state and local governments.
The city of Malibu says it had reports of crowded beaches and hiking trails.
Angelenos also flocked to Santa Monica to escape their cabin fever. In response, the city has closed beach parking lots and advised people to avoid the beach and the beach bike path.
“Today is not the day to go to the beach,” said Santa Monica City Manager Rick Cole in a statement. “We urge our residents to avoid any public spaces where social distancing is a challenge.”
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The Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority (MRCA) announced it would close all of its parks and trails, including the parks owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. MRCA manages more than 75,000 acres of parks and public space.
SOME STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT COVID-19
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Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
