SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A small group of business owners in La Jolla who use the beach for their operations say the city of San Diego is unfairly discriminating against their events.
“The new street vending ordinance that was approved by city officials eliminates all professional services on all San Diego beaches. “We believe this extreme measure discriminates against a large number of members and visitors to our community.”
BluLite Fire Pits It is essentially a picnic service, they provide everything needed to have a great day at the beach so the customer does not have to lift heavy objects and they cater for people with disabilities.
“Our heroes at VA who need a little extra help hosting a beach event. By removing all professional services from our beaches, you are telling all these amazing people that they can’t enjoy what we really want from our amazing city and that is just a fun day at the beach,” said René Contreras, owner of BluLite Bonfires. .
Gregor Coffaro is owner of Purpose First Beach Cleanup. On the first Saturday of every month, her nonprofit hosts a public beach cleanup with fun events.
“Our goal is to help create value in our communities and unite people from our walks of life. That’s really our goal, to help save the ocean and have a good time while doing it. My hope is that we have the support of the city,” Coffaro said.
The group gathered in La Jolla Shores on Tuesday to implore the city of San Diego to allow them to continue operating their beach businesses, which the city’s municipal code says is illegal on all city beaches and has been for quite some time.
A city representative sent the following statement to FOX 5/KUSI, which reads in part: “The Department of Parks and Recreation has created a commercial activity permitting process for pop-up and luxury picnics in coastal areas and in Balboa Park . Commercialized activity in parks and beaches is currently illegal; However, these new guidelines will expand opportunities for commercial vendors to legally conduct business within 12 permitted locations and align these commercial activities with the city’s existing municipal code and the newly unanimously adopted mobile vendor ordinance. by the town hall. A new section has been added to the Department of Parks and Recreation Permit Center Website [sandiego.gov] (see section on “luxury picnic permits”) to provide interested vendors with information on guidelines, locations, and how to obtain permits. Communication activities are underway with commercial suppliers to provide guidance on these new requirements.”
RESTORE San Diego founder Amy Reichert is supporting businesses in their efforts.
“What they’re asking for now is a process, just a fair permitting process to be able to do it. In fact, they are asking to be regulated and the city has said no, although other cities do allow these activities.”