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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)
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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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