Last week, the city of Long Beach proposed an ordinance that would allow ATVs on the city streets, and two beach approaches. If the Long Beach city council chooses to make this change, Pacific County is likely to follow.

Let us be clear: ATVs will have a devastating effect on the quality of all life on the peninsula. Traffic and noise will increase. Our thinly stretched police and sheriff’s departments will find enforcement of the law next to impossible. Fire danger, already high after several years of drought, will increase. Dust and pollution will skyrocket. Birds, bears, and wildlife will suffer. We will suffer as well.

Eventually, our elected officials are going to have to realize that what draws people to the Long Beach Peninsula, what has always drawn people here, is our fresh air, our clean water, our wildlife, and our closeness to nature.

We are home to five state parks and numerous nature areas. We are one of the last places on the planet to have a thriving population of snowy plovers. We have 28 miles of beach to enjoy. We are warm and friendly and have a much higher than normal population of artists, writers, musicians, and storytellers, all inspired by the gifts that nature has lavished on our home. How lucky we are.

And how incredibly selfish and shortsighted it would be to mutilate our home and our quality of life for a little temporary fun.

STACIE GORDON

Ocean Park