nude beach - Loss of Smathers Beach?!

[greg meintjes]

This is one of the articles that have been published lately, where they mention Smathers beach as a possible location for a nude beach. http://keysnews.com/node/12927

Greg

[b-rad]

Definately no shortage of freaks down there! You guys might need a really tall kite pump where you can pump standing up! Stay safe Greg!!!

[greg meintjes]

Thanks Brad, I spoke to one of the commisioners working for the nude beach yesterday and she said she understands our concerns and will work with us. If things do start to go the wrong way for us I talked to a bunch of the local riders and they will go with me to a meeting with the city, but as of now things seem to be okay, so do not want to rock the boat to much.

[conchxpress]

The good thing about Smathers at the present, is that sunbathers don't really hang out there that much, and fortunately or unfortunately - depending on your personal philosophy, the water and the mucky bottom deters people from wanting to swim there. If the nudies move in, then they will have a stake in what goes on there and will undoubtedly be very vocal about their perceived safety or imagined lack of it - i.e. danger from possible kite-mares. Plus they will hog all the parking. If it ever happens, then we get every kiter to bring their camera. Nude sunbathers don't like to be photographed.

[greg meintjes]

The front page of the Key West Citizen had another story on proposed sites for the nude beach and printed a picture off the launch area at Smathers as one of the recommended sites. I went on the naturists site and found that they are now going to start holding meetings down at the beach. Myself and most of the riders do not have a problem with naturists, we just want to protect our riding area, and bathers where we ride will cause a lot of problems. I have left a message for the naturists to call me as I think it will be better if we can work with them for a solution than against them, I have also been in contact with the reporter who wrote the story and she has promised to mention our concerns in her next article. To preserve our riding area we are all going to need to stick together as a group to show the city we are also a tourist attraction and a positive group of persons who are also beneficial to the city. (the naturist predict a nude beach will bring an extra---wait for iiiitt 287 000 people per year) Do not ask me how they came up with this high number.
At present a lot of the local riders have said they will also get pro active to protect our riding area, I am also going to schedule another meeting with the City Managers office and anyone who would like to come and give their input can call me at (305) 407 6748.

Thanks, Greg

[conchxpress]

Greg, do you have a website or email for the appropriate party that we need to contact to express our dissatisfaction with our end of Smathers Beach being considered as a site for a nude beach? We have a nice peaceful area to ride and the local crowd is very courteous to beachgoers. In fact, I think that we draw a spectator crowd that is very supportive and we tend to have very good interaction with them, with everyone explaining the nature and details of the sport to tourists and bystanders. With the presence of the nudies (I'd call them naturalists like they like to be called, but since the beginning of time it has been the nature of people to wear clothes, not the other way around), the atmosphere will assuredly change for the worse. Should we expect a volleyball net in the launch area so we can watch sagging breasts and wrinkled bodies? As I mentioned before, I think that this particular group tends to be very vocal when it comes to their "rights", and I don't think it would be very long before they began complaining that "these kite things" are a danger to sun worshippers. As far as the number 247,000 goes, that would mean there would have to be an influx of 676 new nudies per day. I find that hard to believe. So maybe they get that number from sponsored conventions or something. Could you imagine 3000 or so nude, sun damaged bodies congregating on Smathers? Then there is the element of "gawkers" who would loiter around the beach.
I've seen a lot of posts on different kite forums with problems of access, safety, etc, but never one so bizarre as this. Would it be possible to get a petition going to eliminate Smathers from the running? BTW, what are the other choices?

Frank
If this does come to fruition, I'm claiming the sunblock concession. Just selling - not applying.

[greg meintjes]

Hey Frank, their site is fkfb.org you have to join like I did to comment, good luck, and you are very right, they can be a very vocal group

[greg meintjes]

Tomorrow evening, the city comission is going to have it's second vote on wether to put the proposal for a nude beach to a public vote. Paul Menta and myself are working together on this subject and have a few ideas in mind on what action we have to take if our kiting area is threatened. We will both be at the meeting to see what is proposed and to give our input or objections. One of the main questions we need answered is exactly where they want the nude area designated for them. Paul has found out that they are very busy with a public campaign to "educate" the public about their lifestyle. So when the time comes we are going to make sure the public knows about what a great family orientated lifestyle among other pluses the kiters have to offer. We are going to be looking for phrases for some signs that we are going to have made closer to the election time, if anyone has any ideas they will be greatly appreciated, so far Paul has come up with quite a good one-
"WE DON'T HAVE TO DROP OUR PANTS TO BE EXTREME" .

We will let you know how the meeting goes.

Greg

[conchxpress]

How about "IT'S SEXIER TO CONCEAL THAN TO REVEAL"

or "KEEP OUR ISLAND GREEN, NOT PINK" (my favorite)

or maybe just a simple, "KEEP OUR BEACHES FAMILY FRIENDLY"


OR if they do succeed, post a sign that says "DON'T SCARE THE TOURISTS"

[greg meintjes]

Nice ones Frank, you are in the wrong profession, you should have been in advertising. When do you think you will be back down.