The three-day weekend saw 269,580 people at La Jolla beaches, necessitating lifeguard and police response for several incidents and leaving behind piles of trash.
City of San Diego crews are still working to clean up the 4th of July weekend mess left by beach visitors in La Jolla as lifeguards and police are resting after the busy three-day weekend.
San Diego lifeguards were staffed to maximum levels, while San Diego police had 120-130 officers per day on the beaches.
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department counted about 983,000 visitors from July 4 through 6 at all San Diego beaches and Mission Bay; 269,580 of those were in La Jolla.
Citywide, lifeguards performed 381 water rescues, two cliff rescues and 28,103 “preventative actions,” such as warning people they are too close to a rip current or surf zone.
July 4 was the busiest of the three days, San Diego police Lt Bryan Brecht said, with many incidents occurring after dark, though the majority happened near Belmont Park, the Mission Beach boardwalk and on the beach in that area.
San Diego police made seven felony and 18 misdemeanor arrests, Brecht said, and recorded 15 drunk in public crimes; 28 vehicles impounded; and 440 various beach- and traffic-related citations.
At Marine Street Beach, garbage was left in amounts “never seen” before by weekly beachgoer Mehdi Benkahla, who told lajolla.ca he visited July 4 near Sea Lane to play beach tennis.
The beach was “disgusting” he said, with piles of beer cans and other litter all over.
He and others, including his friends and unknown beachgoers, worked to collect and clear much of the trash left behind.
The San Diego Parks & Recreation Department is in the process of “enhanced cleaning efforts” at the beaches, according to spokesperson Benny Cartwright. Totals on garbage collection are not yet available.
© lajolla.ca
