Arroyo Laguna Access Alert
Michael Raider
The Hearst Corporation owns the land, and technically all beach
goers there are trespassing. Luckily, the Hearst people have been
cool about access, as long as the cows are not bothered. For quite
a few years now surfers, windsurfers, and even transients have
camped overnight at Arroyo Laguna.
It has come to my attention that Brian Casario has been meeting with
the Hearst Corporation in order to get them to not allow overnight
camping at Arroyo Laguna. Apparently, Brian has had a hard time
finding a parking spot and has decided that the campers have to go.
The problem is that camping in that area is very limited. There is
a campground nearby at San Simeon State Beach, but it is usually
full. Therefore, most sailors just camp at Arroyo Laguna. Brian,
in his greed and selfishness, decided that camping at Arroyo Laguna
should cease.
What can we do to keep Arroyo Laguna open? I would encourage all
sailors to boycott Brian Casario’s videos, and the products of his
sponsors. The last time I noticed he was sponsored by Windsurfing
Hawaii, Logosz Works, and True Ames Fins. If this is incorrect or
incomplete I apologize, and hope that someone quickly posts a
correction. I suggest that the boycott continue until either the
companies no longer sponsor Brian, or that Brian publicly apologizes
for his inconsiderate behavior, and works towards keeping Arroyo
Laguna accessible to all.
Michael Raider
SideOff
:Arroyo Laguna is a popular spot on the California Central Coast.
:goers there are trespassing. Luckily, the Hearst people have been
:cool about access, as long as the cows are not bothered. For quite
:a few years now surfers, windsurfers, and even transients have
:camped overnight at Arroyo Laguna.
:It has come to my attention that Brian Casario has been meeting with
:the Hearst Corporation in order to get them to not allow overnight
:camping at Arroyo Laguna. Apparently, Brian has had a hard time
:finding a parking spot and has decided that the campers have to go.
:The problem is that camping in that area is very limited. There is
:a campground nearby at San Simeon State Beach, but it is usually
:full. Therefore, most sailors just camp at Arroyo Laguna. Brian,
:in his greed and selfishness, decided that camping at Arroyo Laguna
:should cease.
:What can we do to keep Arroyo Laguna open? I would encourage all
:sailors to boycott Brian Casarios videos, and the products of his
:sponsors. The last time I noticed he was sponsored by Windsurfing
:Hawaii, Logosz Works, and True Ames Fins. If this is incorrect or
:incomplete I apologize, and hope that someone quickly posts a
:correction. I suggest that the boycott continue until either the
:companies no longer sponsor Brian, or that Brian publicly apologizes
:for his inconsiderate behavior, and works towards keeping Arroyo
:Laguna accessible to all.
:Michael Raider
Dear Micheal Raider,
Okay, now you've pissed me off big-time. I didn't respond to your
childish post a few weeks ago about my video because is was so rediculous.
No secret spots are exposed and local sailors are featured at their own
spots with their blessing and stoke. No sailing spots were "burned" and
the emphasis is on people, not places. You're welcome not to buy one, but
this Arroyo Laguna access issue is a bit more serious and you have
resorted to ignorant personal attacks. First of all, my e-mail address is
posted at the top of every message I send to this forum. The fact that
you never contacted me before you posted your dribble proves you are
indeed lame. You obviously have some personal grudge with me and it's
interesting you find it necessary to splatter it all over ith internet
without talking to me first. I don't even know you.
I have not, nor have any intention of personally meeting with the
Hearst Corporation for any reason. However, I will bring interested
parties up to date. First off, the Hearst Corporation does NOT allow
overnight camping at Arroyo Laguna. In fact, they are down-right
pissed-off about it and it does threaten overall access to Arroyo Laguna,
but that's not what this is about.
The most important thing that is happening is CalTrans is going to
re-align the road from just north of Arroyo Laguna to past the boat launch
area south of Point Piedras Blancas for "safety" reasons. This is,
inactuality, a $2.7 million pork-barrell project for which federal money
is currently available. The road was designed before the arrival of the
elephant seals in the area and rather than re-design the project to
accomodate them CalTrans is ramming through an inadequate design. And to
take care of the seals and mitigate Hearst' Corporation concerns about the
illegal camping they will deny ALL access and parking within the two mile
area. Windsurfing, diving, fishing, boating, kayaking, even walking will
not be permitted. There are two windsurfing spots between Arroyo Laguna
and the lighthouse, neither of which are affected by the elephant seals at
this time.
My wife and I are representing windsurfers in the group called Access
Piedras, which is comprised of all the users groups involved in the appeal
of this project. This group is headed by Debbie Barker (805) 772-7257.
The County Board of Supervisors has upheld Debbie's appeal and is forcing
CalTrans to negotiate with Hearst and Access Piedras to obtain acceptable
access. The issue is far more complicated than this simple letter can
express but the Hearst Corporation, County Supervisors, and Congressman
Jack O'Connell have been very helpful with this issue. The only
belligerent party has been CalTrans, and apparently Micheal Raider.
the problem with the Arroyo Laguna to Piedras Blancas area is not
with overnight RV or windsurfer camping, it is with live-in transients,
some of whom have been parked in the area for several years. The problem
has been expanding greatly in the past 3-4 years and there have been
rip-offs and several run-ins. And there are severe dune degredation and
pollution problems.
Everything that happens at Arroyo Laguna itself, be it trash, shit,
broken fences, bent gates, or harrassed bulls is eventually blamed,
usually unjustly, on windsurfers. A possible casualty with all this MAY
be overnight windsurfers camping at Arroyo Laguna, with which I don't have
a problem and have never lifted a finger trying to get them kicked out.
The CHP is very aware of the difference between a transient and a
windsurfer and would probably not bother to kick you out. But it is
PRIVATE PROPERTY and camping there is ILLEGAL, and ALWAYS has been. And
for your information the campground at San Simeon is rarely full and they
take reservations.
So, Micheal, I am fighting for your access. And if you can't see that
the greater issue here is ALL public access to this coastline and all
you're concerned about is your ability to camp illegally for free on
private property and leave your rig set up, then it's you, Michael, who is
selfish and greedy.
Brian Caserio
Michael Raider
I apologize, and I applaud your efforts. Apparently, the rumor
mill is not correct. I heard from various sources the incorrect story
that I related previously. Maybe you could post periodic updates on the
situation to keep the vicious rumors to a minimum.
Sincerely, Michael Raider
Al Eisen
update and your energy in representing windsurfers' interests
there.
Too many people who will cry foul when free access (even
illegal access) is threatened would never lift a finger to help
those working on their behalf.
Thanks again
Al Eisen
IAMFLASH
Your an idiot, go back to school or run for public office. You would make
a great politician deciding what is right for whom and who get punished
and how, and the whole time you could be sure to benifit yourself.
Flash
Michael Raider
In my experience, and many friends experiences also, Brian Casario is a
very rude person. Therefore, the rumor that he was involved is very
believeable.
Michael
SideOff
The County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday to vote on the compromise
agreement that User Groups, Hearst Corporation, Caltrans, and the County
has been working on for the past two months. A lot of time was put in on
this by a lot of people and hopefully it will go in a more positive
direction from here.
The board voted unanimously to approve the re-alignment of Highway One
contingent upon there being two deeded public beach access points within
the project area. Since these are on Hearst land and Hearst was not
interested in giving ocean front property away, the Hearst corporation is
willing to swap an existing vista point (the one just north of Arroyo
Laguna) for the two within the project. The northern most access in the
project will be used mostly by tourists interested in walking to see the
elephant seals and the southern access will be at the Twin Creeks boat
launch site. The southern access will be developed concurrently with the
project and the northern one must be funded by the county, and as such,
construction of that site will likely be delayed. This swap was made
possible by the Hearst Corporation and since they were in no way obligated
to come forward with this deal they are to be commended for helping
resolve the issue. If a long and nasty battle were to result from this
issue, even access at Arroyo Laguna could be jeapordized.
I would like to personally thank all the windsurfers who came to the
meeting on the 19th to show their support. There was a great turnout and
the windsurfers way outnumbered any other user group in attendance.
This issue will probably not go away immediately because there will
probably be an appeal by several members of the user groups who do not
agree that any coastal access should be lost or traded away in order to
gain another elsewhere. This is a very valid point and one I agree with,
however the timing and complexity of this particular situation made most
windsurfers not want to gamble with access based on a lengthy and possibly
nasty appeal process. The project now goes to the Coastal Commission, who
will approve the swap and barring the appeal, buldozers may appear in
January, unfortunately.
As for those people who are worried about camping at Arroyo Laguna,
the project area is north of Arroyo Laguna and as such it is a non issue.
Hearst does not allow camping but at the same time does not waste their
time trying to kick everyone out. As long as a peaceful and non-damaging
situation exists it is not in their interest to do so. However, keep in
mind that Hearst property begins at the fence. People park and camp in
the CalTrans right of way. It is illegal to camp there also but usually
the CHP will not kick people out unless there is a problem or the person's
situation is prolonged. I would suggest that windsurfers not rely on
camping there.
Brian Caserio
SideOff
You are bloody unbelievable. You are dancing on some pretty libelous
ground here and I suggest you keep your extreemly minority opinions to
yourself from this point forward. Perhaps I've met you before but I am
drawing a blank at this moment so I don't know what your experience with
me is.
Just remember that what goes around comes around. One day someone will
point you out to me at Arroyo Laguna and this little chip on your shoulder
will be taken care of in person. Care to wager how many people on the
beach will be backing me up? I didn't think so.
Piss off.
Brian Caserio
Michael Raider
Brian,
In my haste to respond to IAMFLASH I failed to complete my
thoughts. Taking your rightfully pissed off attitude into account, and
taking into account the fact that you are working towards preserving
access to Arroyo, I should have stated that based on what I knew at the
time that it seemed likely that, (no need to repeat bad things here), but
based on new evidence maybe you are ok, and I just caught you on a bad
day. In regards to your veiled threat above, you can no doubt kick my
ass, so what would that prove?
Anyways, I hope that we can put this issue to rest. Unless
someone has a direct query, I have nothing further to add to this
discussion.
Michael Raider
SideOff
Thanks for everyone's support.
I will post access updates if they are needed.
Brian Caserio