From The Editors' Inbox

Following up on our past posts on problems with Ocean Beach bonfires, SFist reader Owen has this to say (we added the links):

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is considering a total ban on bonfires at Ocean Beach. They spent approximately $90,000 last year cleaning up after beach fires and responding to law enforcement calls relating to them; neighbors and beach visitors have complained about hazardous litter (nails, glass, etc) on the beach, and increased crime in the area. There's a public comment period (Ed note: comment by phone at (415) 561-4723 or email at rudy_evenson@nps.gov) currently open regarding this issue, but it ends on May 31.

I moved to San Francisco from Boston, where beach fires like those currently allowed at Ocean Beach are completely unheard of. Spending a summer evening in the sand, hanging out with friends around a fire (or two...) has become a special part of my social life here, and I would hate to see this passtime legislated out of existence. That said, I have sympathy for the hassles that the GGNRA has to deal with relative to allowing fires at the beach. All I can do is submit my comments to them and hope they'll reconsider.

Aaron Pava has created a web site where interested parties can contact the GGNRA about this issue. It includes suggestions of talking points to cover when writing. He can use all the publicity he can get for this project, so I thought I'd kick it to you guys and see if you'd post about it on sfist.com. The URL is http://saveoceanbeach.org/stopthefireban.