Floatopia, the beach float and alcohol free-for-all that first appeared in 2004, attracts thousands of college students, including many from Cal Poly, to the beaches of Isla Vista each year. But the event won’t be happening this time, at least on the beach. Santa Barbara County officials decided to close the beach just below Isla Vista to deter massive crowds from gathering this year.
The decision was made by the Santa Barbara County Parks and Recreation Department, which has the authority to close down the beach for environmental concern, public safety and public nuisance.
County Parks director Dan Hernandez said the county has a process in place by which a group can come forward and submit a legitimate application for a permit for an event. He said the permit covers issues of liability, sanitation and public safety, and no adequate permit was ever submitted for the event this year. Therefore, Hernandez said, the county decided to close the beach to avoid another “disaster.”
“Last year was the worst I’ve ever seen,” Hernandez said. “I’ve been in parks and recreation for more than 20 years, and I’ve never seen more environmentally destructive behavior than what took place last year.”
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department will help enforce the county’s decision. All beach accesses will be barricaded and law enforcement officials will be stationed at each point. There will also be deputies monitoring the water and throughout Isla Vista and the surrounding areas.
Despite the beach closure, there are still some Cal Poly students who are going to make the drive down to Santa Barbara for the weekend.
Cesanne Amiri, a construction management junior, said he was pissed off about the decision and that the county was trying to single-out college students.
“Everything I paid to come to college for, they are taking it and stripping it from me,” Amiri said.
Amiri attended last year’s event and said it was crazy in terms of the amount of people on the beach.
In the future, there is a possibility of the beach being used for the event. Hernandez said he would be happy to have an event like this and work with students on making it happen, if there could be someone to sponsor the event. He said the county does not have the resources to deal with 12,000 people coming into town without someone accountable.
“Without somebody to take responsibility for the event, it’s not going to happen,” Hernandez said.
Lieutenant Brian Olmstead said there is going to be strict enforcement and anyone that enters the beach will be subject to a citation or arrest. He said there will be a zero-tolerance policy with regards to alcohol laws.
“We are really hoping and encouraging people not to attend because they have a risk of being arrested,” Olmstead said.
The Sheriff’s Department issued 78 citations at last year’s event along with 13 arrests. Also, Olmstead said more than 33 people had to be taken to the emergency room, which almost put them at capacity.
“The hospitals weren’t prepared for that many people last year and it affected services to local areas,” Olmstead said.
Floatopia originated at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2004 and has steadily attracted more and more people. The event has been replicated in other areas, including a Floatopia event that is held in San Diego. Hernandez said the event began as a local event attracting around 1,000 people, but escalated last year due to Facebook.
“It turned into this massive, crazy party that just destroyed everything,” Hernandez said. “It’s embarrassing the the type of disregard for the environment that took place.”
There have already been Facebook groups that have sprung up in protest of the beaches closing down. There is one group entitled “Floatopia Isla Vista APRIL 10th” that encourages people to party on Del Playa Drive and in the streets on Saturday. The group has more than 12,000 confirmed guests.