COUNTY OUSTS SCOUTS!

Sea Base Marina del Rey, like many BSA facilities subject to political correctness, has fallen victim to the liberaly biased majority at the LA County Board of Supervisors. When the 30 year land lease expired, the County effectively excercised Eminent Domain over the Marina del Rey Sea Base - the base the Scouts Built over 30 years ago, maintained with donations, staff time, and most importantly, the sweat and effort of young men and women in Scouting dedicated to a quality Sea Base.

Sea Base Marina del Rey is no more.

The County strung local Scouts on for nearly 2 years, first switching to a year to year rent, and kicking the live-in base ranger out. Without 24 hour security and maintenance, Ship-11's flagship promptly fell victim. Within 2 weeks, our dinghy and outboard were promptly stolen. The response from the County staff was "Oh, well. File a report with the sheriff".

The Base soon became a mere shadow of its former self. The lack of a 24-7 live in base ranger, replaced by roving door shaker contract security with no vested interest in the facility, resulted in constant vandalism and thefts. If it wasn't locked down, it disappeared.

We lost dock power over one winter, needed to keep charged the boat batteries charged (which power the bilge pumps). Repairs that could be fixed by the Scouts through their staff or a contractor within days, took the County beauacracy months to affect, risking the sinking of boats. Volunteers had to come in and regularly bail them out manually for months. Our Luhrs nearly flooded during the rainy winter. We made special trips down to the docks to hand-pump her out to prevent her and others from sinking.

One day, when our crew showed up to volunteer for Base Duty, relieving paid staff to take a day off to sail the better boats, we found the FOR SALE sign on our Luhrs. Feeling the space crunch, coupled with the loss of income the Base previously enjoyed through its former ability to rent rooms to outside groups for functions, WLACC eventually sold the adopted boat our crew spent many hours and weekends repairing, maintaining, and making seaworthy. We lost a number of demoralized crew after this excercise.

The County tore out the base kitchen facilities, and locked us out of our own shops, claiming safety concerns, despite no significant injury ever occuring, and even after passing Fire and OSHA inspections. The County simply perceived an issue. Citing safety again (who can argue with being safe, right?) they chained off the stairs and upper deck areas of the base, just in time to force the cancellation of Sea Scout Fleet Christmas Party, and the traditional BBQ after we work the Boat Parade. Yet it was safe enough for tthe Beaches and Harbors beauraucrats to take down the fence the next week for their party...!

The County made every effort to make life tough on the Scouts. But the Base staff and volunteers like our Ship, continued to plug along and provide quality programs, despite the County. Although we continued to support the Base with our Ships Officers volunteering as Merit Badge Counselors and our crew assisting with Base Duty as needed, the County eventually drove the Scouts out. Down came the Scout flag, BSA logos, and signs, to be replaced by No Tresspassing signs and County Seals - complete with the controverseal cross! The only thing remaining is the bust of Mr. Pardee who graciously supported the base, the brass dedication plaque and the memories.

This has been a bitter education into politics for the kids. The County has its agenda, and it doesn't include program like Boy Scouts. We have moved on. We don't teach a fraction of the kids Small Boat Sailing, Safe Swim Defense, or other quality Scouting programs without the access to the Base, like we used to. The reality is that County has driven more kids away than they will ever attract with their programs, subject to budget cuts, and minimum wage paid staff lacking the personal commitment that the volunteers demonstrated.

The County crumudgeons may be able to replace the volunteers with buearuacrats, the ranger with guards, and the kids with movie crews, and they may even rip out the bust and plaque. But they can't discard our fond memories, the friendships that were made, and the character that was built using the solid moral foundation of Scouting.