Will Rogers State Beach Bathrooms Back to Business as Usual

Reduced bathroom hours for Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades  came to an end on Saturday.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe released a statement Thursday that Point Dume, Zuma No. 6 and Will Rogers State Beach facilities will open at 7 a.m. starting Saturday.

The Department of Beaches and Harbors last month began opening beach bathrooms as late as 11 a.m. due to budget cuts.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, whose district includes Pacific Palisades, said at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting that he had received numerous complaints about the cleanliness of the beach bathrooms since the hours were reduced. He called this a “major health issue” and “the worst thing in the world.”

Knabe wrote in a statement appearing on his website that the Department of Beaches and Harbors’ complaint log included nothing about bathroom cleanliness, but there were several entries about the bathrooms not opening early enough.

“As of Saturday … the Department of Beaches and Harbors has realigned some employee schedules to open up the most high-traffic restrooms by 7 a.m.,” Knabe wrote. “Within 30 days, the department will hire the staff necessary to open as many restrooms as possible in the early morning.”

The bathrooms at beaches in Pacific Palisades (Will Rogers), Manhattan Beach and San Pedro will also received the early morning treatment on Saturday. 

Department of Beaches and Harbors officials will outline the details of a plan to hire extra staff at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting, Knabe wrote.