DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Volusia County’s plan for removing cars from the beach rolls like a juggernaut toward conclusion advertised as always, by the well paid minions of the Daytona Beach News-Journal in advertising through county tax dollars.
The front page of the News Journal recently showed a photo of an empty beach lot with the wording, “Sleeping Giant” accompanying a self-serving story on how investors are looking towards developing the multitude of empty lots along the coast, particularly in Daytona along the World's Most Famous Beach® now that the county has allowed two luxury hotels to build with the understanding there will be no cars on the beach behind their premises.
In my mind this all began many years ago when they halted cars from behind the boardwalk. I can’t state as a fact that the businesses there lost money on that proposition, but I know that most of my friends and I stopped going there since there was no other parking provided that was as near as the beach directly behind those shops, rides and arcades, at least without having to cross multiple lanes of traffic on A1A .
Time rocked on and over the years Daytona has been “restoring” that area and now trying to extend and destroy it by making it a hoity-toity boardwalk.
Also during these years at various times no driving areas have been established and angry debates have been raging between the cars on the beach supporters and the banish them completely supporters.
There is no good end to this situation and if you all can’t see the hand writing on the wall it says that one day in the not-too-distant future, you will no longer be able to drive on any part of your favorite beach.
One of Daytona’s biggest draws has always been the unique ability to drive on the beach. I come from the North where we went to the lake, parked in a lot and dragged all the babies, beach chairs, food, blankets, towels and everything needed in many trips back and forth.
When I got here and could just leave all that in the car and take it out as I needed it, I was amazed. When my family started getting older and less able to get around they could still get to and walk on the beach. The beach was accessible for disabled and even special chairs that rolled on the sand were developed. It used to be a wonderful place to be. We could drive on it at night and have camp fires.
Now the list of “don’ts” posted at the toll booths is humongous.
One of Daytona’s biggest draws has always been the unique ability to drive on the beach. I come from the North where we went to the lake, parked in a lot and dragged all the babies, beach chairs, food, blankets, towels and everything needed in many trips back and forth. When I got here and could just leave all that in the car and take it out as I needed it, I was amazed. When my family started getting older and less able to get around they could still get to and walk on the beach. The beach was accessible for disabled and even special chairs that rolled on the sand were developed. It used to be a wonderful place to be. We could drive on it at night and have camp fires. Now the list of “don’ts” posted at the toll booths is humongous.
I have not driven on the beach at all since the tolls were put in place because I don’t believe in them. I used to walk down from the parking lot after dark and stroll along the water. Now they are adding fees to park as well so I will no doubt never see the ocean again in person. God made that ocean for all his people and he didn’t place a surcharge on going there.
I am saddened by the way the beach is now and has been handled for many years. When I was young most of the high school seniors were life guards and none were molested doing so. Not so today. Now, besides all the other issues attached to the beach, we have to deal with that stigma. And they wonder why there is a shortage of life guards available. I wouldn’t let my child near them.
The people of this county need to stand up and stop letting these elected officials, who re beholden to the rich insiders who fill their campaign coffers and then own them and their moneyed cronies run things the way they want and not by the will of the people. Otherwise just stand there as usual and watch your rights get frittered away. But you'd better not complain when it happens.