Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay Fined $1.6 Million for Denying Beach Access to Public

The California Coastal Commission slapped the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay hotel with a $1.6 million fine Thursday for repeatedly denying public access to nearby beaches. Maria Medina reports. (6-13-19)

[raybod]

They need to double the fine every year until they comply

[wallspc]

I'm very confused, I've gone to this beach many times without staying there and I've never had an issue parking in that ramp. The public spots have been marked for years.

[dirtydoughboy]

1.6 million is toilet paper money..so it's a joke.20 yrs they did this.should be a million a yr.

[aldofhister]

If they don't comply you simply burn the building to the ground ! But only when the right people are inside

[fayzemourie]

that right they deserve it public's is important

[CENCAL]

Not a attractive building, boring .The cliff has unexplainable structures seen from the beach only

[hillaryclinton]

Hmb is a good ole boys town and the ritz has done enough for our town that the mayor doesn’t care.

[jasminespencer]

I would love to see a follow up to this report. Great report by the way.

[pauli]

I don't agree that the hotel should provide parking spots for beach-goers. Parking should be provided by the city.

[yunpengw]

Last time I went there two years ago they turned me down and said only for hotel guests and golfers. They are not welcome to anyone but guests paying 1K a night. You can’t even have dinner inside.

[Daniel-zjv]

Does the public that was denied access get the fine money?

[carrietoo]

This is still happening. One time it was one of the techie CEOs who blocked off access. California is the worst!!

[moidalam]

I got there today and they asked me to pay 40 bucks for valet parking. There was no other option. I made a u turn

[immcguyver]

Prosticute them! I wish we had laws like this on the books in Florida.

[confucious_of_babbel]

Recent YouTube videos show some interesting columns built into the cliff wall on the beach. Maybe they don’t want you wondering about these things.

[DigitalDuelist]

Anything to do with building on half moon bay sticking out of the cliff thevdenolished since then? Demolishing ancient ruins.

[kellyalves]

To the people who are saying they never have trouble, a few points:

- right next to the Ritz is a mobile home part, where a lot of poor folk live

- directly across the street and down the road from Ocean Colony ( yhe gated community in front of the Ritz) is a healthy low income housing community. I work there a lot as a substitute. I’d guess that 99.999 % of the residents are Latino. And lots of kids.

— these neighborhoods are so sharply divided that I was told by a fellow sub that he mentioned working in the housing development to some more affluent residents of HMB and they had no idea it existed. I live in a pretty diverse suburb of San Francisco, but it’s pretty well blended ethnicity-wise. Town like Half Moon Bay and Redwood City were a culture shock to me, because the neighborhoods were so divided.

So forgive me for being cynical, but I do wonder if some people are left alone because they simply look more like people who could afford to stay at the Ritz.

And my challenge to the Ritz is to brainstorm community events to be held at the Ritz that unite the two worlds of Half Moon Bay. Just a thought.

[jabari]

I understand both sides I mean if I’m paying $1, 000 a night? I’d prefer to have the beach to be more private, but if it’s a public area I’m not sure what they could do. Maybe purchase the land?
Also, are they really taking that much space? The beach itself goes on for miles.
I, myself have never been to a Ritz Carlton but I’m just saying it’s not a big deal for me if they want some privacy.

[obigspritztkenobi]

worked for ritz carlton on summer job they should all be sue'd fkin slavery 2.0 there. minimum wage for 50-60hours.

[iank]

Lmao I’ve lived in half moon bay for 15 years and have never once been stopped from going on that beach