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Orange County Blames Inland Empire
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There’s a bit of a skirmish going on right now between our BCBG-wearing cousins to the south in Orange County and our tank-top-sporting bros to the east in Riverside and San Bernardino.Hard to believe people behind the Orange Curtain would ever harbor an irrational prejudice, we know, but bear with us.
The L.A. Times says an old stereotype of 909ers as classless rednecks who overturn Porta Potties has been rekindled since July, when the U.S. Open surf contest in Huntington Beach degenerated into a street riot: three of the 12 people arrested were from inland cities.
Bad clothing, Jersey Shore style and meth are the hallmarks of the 909, one O.C. resident told the Times: "That's what you hear on the news."
909ers are "white kids that dress like bros" and "try to act like tough guys,” said another.
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We're gonna go out on a limb here and say there might be elements of racism and classism involved.
But of course, not everyone in the OC wants to bash inlanders - especially Huntington Beach politicians, who know tourism is crucial to the city’s businesses and tax revenue.
"I hate the term '909ers,'" said Connie Boardman, Huntington Beach’s mayor. "Like it's some crime to be from some other part of California and come to our beach."
Agreed. Can’t we all just blame Santa Monica?
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