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LA Mayor Shuts Down Beach Parking And Closes Sports Facilities
People, some wearing face masks, walk in Griffith Park on Sunday. (Mario Tama / Getty Images)
After a weekend where it was clear a lot of people were still in close proximity in many outdoor areas, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti essentially said tonight: Enough is enough.
This weekend we saw too many people packing beaches, trails and parks. So we are closing sports and recreation at @LACityParks and closing parking at city beaches. That doesn’t mean gather elsewhere. This is serious. Stay home and save lives.
— MayorOfLA (@MayorOfLA) March 23, 2020
Before Garcetti's announcement:
- Santa Monica had already shut down beach parking lots.
- The Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority (MRCA) announced it would close all of its parks and trails -- 75,000 acres of land in all.
- Long Beach had closed sports facilities.
Social distancing calls for people to stay at least six feet apart (see above photo). Under statewide "Safer at Home" orders, authorities had asked all Californians to do their part not to leave their home, except to work in essential jobs or seek essential services.
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Garcetti had encouraged people to walk dogs and take hikes, but apparently didn't anticipate the volume of people who would still gather in public recreational spaces.
We will have more on this story tomorrow.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
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.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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