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Residents in wealthy California town block access to public hot springs with boulders (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

101 comments fedilink hide all child comments

County officials alert Montecito homeowners that they face prosecution, including daily fines of $850 if stones are not removed

Montecito, California, is known for being home to Oprah, a former royal family, and a stunning stretch of coastline. It’s also home to miles of trails, some of which are being blocked by residents hoping to stop people from accessing public hot springs.

Santa Barbara county has been watching encroachments on East Mountain Drive and Riven Rock Road in Montecito since at least 2022, when they sent letters to residents warning them to remove large stones.

Last month, county officials sent letters again to at least six homes alerting residents to remove the stones by 28 March or face civil or criminal prosecution, including daily fines of $850. The county insists that these roads are a public right of way.

The issue seems to be with parking at the trailhead, where a tiny lot allows for just eight vehicles. When that fills up, hikers have to park on roadsides. The hot springs contain six bright blue pools that are located 1.3 miles from the trailhead in the San Padres Forest, surrounded by a deep forest and rocky hills. It became popular during the pandemic when hiking surged in the area, and has also taken off on social media as a destination.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I hear what you're saying, but the problem is that fines don't affect the rich the same way they do everyone else. It's not a level playing field.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

They're ordered to remove the boulders even while they're paying the daily fines, so if they don't remove the boulders they're going to be looking at further prosecution.

Personally, I really hope they escalate things even further so they can charge them enough to expand education or other public services. I want to see more zeroes on the fines. IDGAF about cramming 10 people in some blue water pools.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Mate the lawyers that live in those towns will eat the township's attempts at clawing any amount of money from these scum sucking parasites before their morning coffee cools down.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

LMAO they've literally already lost a court battle when the daily fines were decided, if they try to fight it again then the courts will be even less favourable out of spite.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Battles don't mean shit if there's no enforcement.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

You literally don't believe in the enforcement happening before your very eyes.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 months ago

Which is what?