Newport Beach, California, voted down a measure that would have closed the city’s beach for the next three weeks.
The city received pressure to close the beaches after photographs showed hundreds of families spending time in the sand over the weekend. A motion to close the beaches was voted down 5-2 by the city council Tuesday.
Councilman Kevin Muldoon said the beaches looked crowded but noted that people “are social distancing” while soaking up some sun. He told CBS Los Angeles, “I’ve heard from a lot of individuals, most of which support keeping beaches open. They think most people are being responsible. It’s mostly families and those practicing social distancing.”
“I think the message we need to get out is don’t be afraid, we’re ahead of the curve, the curve is dropping, fear does not benefit anyone,” Muldoon said while praising his colleagues for agreeing to keep the beaches open. “This is a time for hope. This is a time when we’re planning to open. Stay calm and calm, and we’re going to get through it.”
Several members of the public offered feedback to the council before the vote. Newport Beach resident Nicole Monteilh Brown said, “Our kids have no school, they have no sports, they need an outlet, and the beach can be a perfect place for it.”
Katherine Weeda, another resident, disagreed with Muldoon and Brown. Weeda said, “I think it was out of control. There were way too many people. They were all on top of each other.”
Nearby Huntington Beach said it would watch the vote before deciding to close its beaches out of fear that a closure at Newport Beach would lead to even more crowding in their city.
At least three California residents were arrested after visiting closed beaches last weekend.
