Maskless Masses Pack Malibu Beaches

MALIBU, CA — The first weekend that Malibu beaches were open to the public didn’t go exactly as planned.

Hundreds of visitors swarmed to the beaches, and many were spotted reclining on chairs and blankets, even though the LA County Order forbade “gathering, sitting, or sunbathing.” Even though the Order mandated masks outside of the water, Radio Malibu host Hanz Laetz estimated in a Facebook post that 70 to 90 percent of beachgoers at Zuma Beach were not wearing any masks.

Since beach parking lots were closed, the PCH parking shoulder filled up quickly. Visitors parked, often illegally, in residential neighborhoods, and loud parties continued into the night. In a released statement, the city of Malibu reported that their Sheriff’s Volunteers on Patrol issued more than 977 parking citations, a weekend record. The statement also reported numerous resident complaints on social media.

At a Monday news conference, Laetz asked Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer is she had heard of the “disaster” at Malibu beaches over the weekend, to which Ferrer replied, “We got reports.”

She continued: “We’re working very closely with Beaches and Harbor to make sure this doesn’t continue to happen. If people are willing to blatantly disregard their obligation to make it safe for others, it’s impossible to continue to move down a path towards recovery, because this is what is going to overwhelm our healthcare system. You don’t know when you’re in a public space who the people are who are around you, you may have underlying health conditions.”

The City of Malibu confirmed in a statement that it was aware of the problems with noise, parking, and social distancing. The statement noted that the City had requested extra Sheriff’s enforcement, and that the Sheriff’s Summer Beach Team will continue to patrol the beaches.

The Malibu/Los Hills Sheriff’s Station did not return Patch’s calls for comment.

Don't miss updates about the coronavirus in California as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.