Grumpy Editor

L.A. County nixes football or Frisbee tossing at beaches

While San Francisco is noted for screwball laws, it looks like Los Angeles County is aiming to take top honors with new rules at beaches effective this summer that ban tossing footballs or Frisbees, notes Grumpy Editor.

Such activity, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, could bring fines up to $1,000, points out CBS-TV in Los Angeles, which revealed the slap against beachside fun included in a 36-page ordinance.

Alert editorial page writers on newspapers with beaches in their circulation areas should take note because what develops in Los Angeles or San Francisco often swoops to other regions --- especially when politicians note something that can generate revenue. 

Exceptions, reported CBS, allow for ball throwing in pre-designated areas, when a person obtains a permit, or playing water polo “in or over the Pacific Ocean.”  Beach balls and volleyballs remained acceptable. 

Wait.  There’s more. 

Playing-in-the-sand kids (or large dogs) are targeted, too.

The ordinance also prohibits digging any hole in the sand deeper than 18 inches except where permission is granted for film and television production services.

That would indicate lifeguard towers now will also have to contain yardsticks to determine depth of digging.

However, during the winter off-season, the new rules will be relaxed. 

But hold on.  Other activity can get beachgoers in trouble.

Despite the roar of ocean waves:  Section 38 on page 22 of the ordinance cites “a person shall not disturb the peace and quiet of any beach,” ranging from “unduly loud music…or unusual noise,” or “use of any vulgar, profane or indecent language.”

Wade through the 36-page ordinance here.

 

Missing from the Las Vegas Strip: outcry from PETA

While casino patrons from around the world are welcomed on the famous Las Vegas Strip, pending legislation by Clark County Commissioners would ban some dogs on public and private sidewalks plus pedestrian bridges along the five-mile stretch, finds Grumpy Editor. 

Behind the anti-pooch measure, slated for further action later this month, is commissioner Chris Giunchigliani who also drafted a proposed ordinance that seeks banning pigeon feeding in Clark County. 

The dual actions --- not generating media excitement beyond Nevada --- also have not attracted the attention of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). 

Giunchigliani a few years ago pushed an ordinance that promoted the capture and spaying/neutering of feral cats. 

One resident asked in print, “After attacking hungry birds and starving canines, will she (Giunchigliani ) target the poor defenseless rodent?” 

Pigeons come up for further discussion by commissioners next Tuesday.  Rules could lead to pigeon feeders (that would include unknowing tourists) getting a stiff up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. 

While the major thrust now is on birds and dogs, commissioners for years have been unable to curb the growing number of unlicensed street vendors, panhandlers and adult news distributors that line the busy Las Vegas Strip --- cluttering up the scenery more than pigeons and dogs.

 

Coeur d’Alene top dog-friendly city, barks Dog Fancy

With front-page headlines today on Libya, East Coast earthquake and Hurricane Irene in the western Atlantic, some overworked (and short staffed) editors may have missed news from Dog Fancy magazine that the most dog-friendly city in the U.S. is Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, mentions Grumpy Editor. 

The revelation comes, appropriately, during “dog days,” defined as the hottest and most sultry summer days between early July and early September. 

In naming the winner of the 2011 DogTown USA competition, Ernie Stone, Dog Fancy editor, relates:  “What we discovered is that whether a dog likes a place to run and hike, loves to mingle downtown, or needs a new home, dogs and their owners have it made in Coeur d’Alene, a little slice of dog heaven.”

Coeur d’Alene, with a population of about 45,000, is 30 miles east of Spokane, Wash. 

Criteria used to select the winning city include an abundance of dog-friendly open spaces and dog parks, events celebrating dogs and their owners, ample veterinary care, abundant pet supply and other services, and municipal laws that support and protect all pets, cites the magazine. 

Four regional winners are: Northeast, Doylestown, Pa.; Southeast, Knoxville, Tenn.; Northwest, Bend, Ore., and Southwest, Santa Cruz, Calif. 

Full story on DogTown USA is in the October issue of Dog Fancy.