WORLD news briefs

By Katherine M. Clements

Local

Laguna Beach Ban Could Stop Public Use and Sales of all Balloons Within City Limits

LAGUNA BEACH —Laguna Beach is set to approve an ordinance prohibiting the sale or release of all balloons on city property, like parks and beaches. The balloon ban is one of the most aggressive in the state, and Laguna Beach would be the first city in Orange County to ban all balloons if it passes. Supporters of the ordinance, such as the Surfrider Foundation South OC chapter, said their goal is to protect the coastline and sea life.

Rich German spends much of his time paddleboarding out in Laguna Beach. German founded Project O, a nonprofit focused on protecting the ocean, and has been documenting the impact balloons have on the environment. German said that two years ago, he collected 31 Valentine’s Day balloons in one day.

In addition, Flowers by the Sea, a floral shop in Laguna Beach, stopped selling latex helium balloons because of their environmental impact.

Owner Ginna Gossett said they now use Mylar balloons as part of some decorations, but she supports banning the sale of balloons.

“We have the power to decide to use balloons or not in our decorations, so my focus on my business is flowers and plants more than balloons,” said Gossett in an interview with ABC7.

The Laguna Beach City Council is expected to approve the ordinance during their meeting on Feb. 21. Supporters hope other coastal cities follow suit.

The ban would take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and those who don’t follow the ban could face warnings or fines of up to $500.

Final Round of Queen Mary Repairs are Underway

LONG BEACH — Long Beach— The City of Long Beach announced on Feb. 21 that it has begun preparation work for installing anticipated new boilers and heat exchangers onboard the RMS Queen Mary. The multi-phase project began in late January with demolishing the existing heat exchangers, piping, and electrical pneumatics as part of the last round of critical repairs required to reopen the Queen Mary’s hotel, restaurants, bars, and other onboard amenities this spring.

“The amount of critical work put into our icon, the Queen Mary, over the last year has been incredible to watch,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a press release. “We are almost there for our targeted reopening later this spring. I look forward to welcoming more visitors back onboard this historic landmark soon.”

Demolition work is underway for the ship’s existing, out-of-commission boilers and heat exchangers. It is expected to be completed over the next few weeks, at which point installation of the new piping and mechanical equipment that support the new boilers and heat exchangers will occur. The new boilers and heat exchangers can then be installed. Once installation of the new boilers and heat exchangers is complete, which will supply hot water for cooking, cleaning, sanitizing, and other hospitality amenities, Evolution Hospitality staff can begin preparations to reopen additional elements of the Queen Mary, such as the hotel, restaurants, bars, and shops onboard.

The remainder of the critical repairs approaching completion includes the installation of an emergency generator, which powers vital components of the ship in the event of an emergency, and the completion of the bilge pump system designed to protect the ship in case of an emergency. The generator and bilge pump system installation is expected to be completed by early spring.

“We’ve worked so hard to preserve and uphold this community treasure and we are so excited to share our progress with our community soon,” said First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas in the press release.

Other projects that are taking place concurrently and are anticipated to be complete prior to a broader reopening include upgrades to the ship’s main boarding entrance – such as repairs to the Wharf and Promenade Deck gangways; elevator repair and modernization; and painting, lighting, and other enhancements to the entire Wharf area – as well as onboard restroom repairs, flooring replacements and ceiling paint and tile repair in the Promenade Deck’s Main Hall; HVAC repair and floor and window repairs in the Observation Bar; parking lot repairs; and kitchen and restaurant improvements, among others.

STATE/NATIONAL/ INTERNATIONAL

After NCLA Win, Fifth Circuit Tosses Back NMFS Rule Trying to Track Charter Boats Without a Warrant

WASHINGTON, DC — On Feb. 23, the New Civil Liberties Association (NCLA) released a press release announcing a landmark win for charter boat fishermen across the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has set aside a controversial Final Rule issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which required 24-hour GPS tracking of recreational charter boat fishing vessels and reporting of confidential economic data. As Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod wrote, “in promulgating this regulation, the Government committed multiple independent Administrative Procedure Act violations, and very likely violated the Fourth Amendment.” The ruling is significant for many reasons, including that the Government tried to claim that charter boat fishing is a “closely-regulated industry” to which the Fourth Amendment does not apply.

NCLA represents over 1,300 federally permitted charter boat owners in the class-action lawsuit Mexican Gulf Fishing Company v. U.S. Department