Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Whale still not removed from Sharp Park Beach (Mori Point), now defaced


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Any plan to remove this whale carcass yet?
Seems like there should be one, a plan that is.
"Los Angeles Times/Veronica Rocha, Reporter, 4/21/15.  "Corpse of beached sperm whale vandalized in Bay Area."

"Vandals have spray-painted the corpse of a 48-foot male sperm whale that has been beached at Mori Point in Pacifica, Calif., for a week.

A photograph from KRON4 shows the decaying corpse vandalized and spray-painted in white with “East Bay Rats Motorcycle Club.” The group is a Bay Area motorcycle club that formed in 1994.

The whale has been stranded on the beach since April 14, drawing hundreds of spectators to the Sharp Park State Beach."  Read more. 

Related, news articles.  KRON 4/Molly Martinez, 4/20/15,"Beached whale defaced in Pacifica." "PACIFICA (KRON) — The corpse of a beached whale discovered last week has been defaced.  Scientists performed a necropsy Wednesday, and the enormous dead mammal has been lying on the beach ever since.  The graffiti on the dead whale reads, “EAST BAY RATS MOTORCYCLE CLUB.” Biologists were unable to determine the cause of death for the sperm whale found washed up on a Pacifica beach April 14, Marine Mammal Center officials said."  Also see Fix Pacifica reprint article from NBC Bay Area, 4/15/15. 

Related, vandals (alleged).   East Bay Rats Motorcycle Club/Facebook, aka: "Dumb and Dumber", (opinion).    Note:  photograph from the related KRON 4 article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

57 comments:

Sober Biker said...

this is obviously the work of a rival MC and not E. Bay Rats. They just want to stir it up and maybe have a rumble.

The Local Libertarian said...

There is nothing to remove.

The Earth as a whole is a decomposing and a composing entity. It is constantly breaking down life as it is constantly creating it.

It is sheer arrogance to think the reality of this planet can be forgotten by moving away a dead whale from its rightful grave and many critters who depend on such ocean carrion.

Let it be. Let it rot. Let the stench of death teach us the humility and strength to accept life for it fragility and the wisdom to lead a fulfilling one.

Anonymous said...

Yea. Let's stop burying people. Just leave em on the side of the road to remind us of our immortality.
While we're at it, let's stop using toilet paper too, to remind us we're full of shit.

Anonymous said...

Someone tried to light the whale on fire the other night.

snap crackle pop!

Anonymous said...

High Five 827! You bungled mortality (let's all consider that possibility for a moment) but that last line is awesome!

Anonymous said...

937 Crude but quick solution if done safely.

Anonymous said...

Yes, mortality was what I meant to say. However that only applies on this planet.

The Local Libertarian said...

@ 8:27 -- People have other people to bury them. We are a different kind of social beings.

Most other living beings in nature do not follow this practice. Neither do they use toilet paper. Yet, they co-exist the best they can with other species -- in relative peace and without offensively polluting/invading/abusing their living space or others'.

The whale died on the beach. Its natural resting place. It didn't die in your home. And natural scavengers will do their work. That is just the way it is. If you think it is a sin to deprive someone of their food, it is just as bad a sin to deprive natural scavengers of theirs. Work with nature.

Fighting nature is both futile and foolish.

Get some perspective.

Anonymous said...

Can the stank of a decomposing whale be anymore odoriferous than that of our state-of-the art sewer plant?

Me thinks not.

Anonymous said...

You'll have to forgive me, Local Lib, if I don't adopt your perspective, uber enlightened though it may be.

Anonymous said...

124 Depends how close you are and which way the wind is blowing. They both stink but the whale will be gone soon, on way or another. The poop plant is here to stay. And what a clever move to put it in the quarry! Those enviros and WSP fools were pretty slick. If development threatens, just poop on the
real estate. Game-changer.

Anonymous said...

I've had a few whales pass out in my home, but none died.

Caring about all creatures.... said...

I am pleased to share the announcment, by Pacifica Beach Coalition, of a memorial service for the whale:

Saturday, April 25th - 10.30 am
Sharp Park beach in view of our fallen brother. Walk to the end of the levee along the golf course and you will find us on the South end before Mori Point. Everyone is welcome to join us as we honor his life and thank him for sharing his end of life with us. We are sad but also honored to have him on our shores sharing information about all Sperm Whales and reminding us that we all can do more to help whales, the ocean, and the environment. Feel free to bring a NATURAL gift to honor his life if you wish.

Anonymous said...

oh hell no. not even with a head cold.

Kathy Meeh said...

229, although some of us agree all life should be respected... the dead whale provides the "natural" gift: BACTERIA. Unless otherwise advised by our government health science services, the sooner the carcass is removed and the area cleaned the better.

The City pays the County to remove road kill, how is this different except its a State Beach.

The Local Libertarian said...

Yes, BACTERIA is good for you.

BACTERIUM are the most pervasive life on this planet. They've been here before us and help us live meaningful lives.

Without bacterium we would not be able to live. So, it would be good for anyone to understand the vitality and importance of bacterium and dependence of all life on microbial processes.

Kathy Meeh said...

1011, in the intended context of a rotting whale on our beach, such bacteria or bacterium is not beneficial, and may be seriously dangerous and harmful to humans and most animals.

So, the question is, why would you make such a misleading, weird, out of context statement?

Anonymous said...

1011 Just saying, we can understand the process without being part of the lab demo with all its sights and smells.

The Local LIbertarian said...

Rotting odors mostly comprise of the following:

Methyl Mercaptan
Dimethyl Sulfide
Dimethyl Trisulfide

They usually constitute somewhere between 1 part per billion and 1 part per trillion to be detectably by humans.

The main purpose of such odors is to signal scavengers to availability of their desired food.

They are not harmful to humans. As a matter of fact, humans have thrived in these odors for many thousands of years -- by virtue of fishing communities and civilizations.

Natural scavengers do it for free. So there is no tax payer burden. Also, they ensure efficient dispersal and re-integration of organics back into food cycle -- both which the city or modern technology is very inefficient at.

There is nothing weird about what I said. Though, it displays your lack of understanding about the underlying fundamental living processes.

Let the nature do its work. And be kind to those animals who thrive on carrion. What is more important your temporary discomfort or a better ecology?

If you can't handle the natural sights and sounds of a natural beach perhaps you are not suited for living along one -- think about that.

The Local Libertarian said...

@8:31 AM

The observer is not removed from the observed. They are both interdependent and interlinked.

The cause of observation has the effect of experience on the observer.

The world itself is a lab. We are all subject to change regardless of how much we want to ignore it.

Its about degrees of perception of and sensitivity for the world around us.

Kathy Meeh said...

Lib science lab 905, 909, only in Pacifica a dead, rotting whale continues to decay on an urban City beach (potential health hazards stated prior). Coupled with this article, Mendocino hauled away their whale in two (2) days.

Pacifica (Linda Mar) is a State Beach. Why isn't the State attending to removing the whale?

See Business Insider/Dina Spector, 5/27/14. ".... The dead whale was found at Imperial Beach on Sunday (5/25/14) and is now the responsibility of the State Parks Department, NBC San Diego reports. State authorities are still figuring out how to dispose of the decaying animal (75 foot whale carcass), which is starting to stink. ... Susan Chivers, a research biologist with NOAA told the San Diego Union-Tribune that the best disposal method would be to either bury it or to move it to a landfill and let it rot. Whales are large animals and we've seen before that removing them is not easy." (The whale was hauled out to sea first, it floated back).

Anonymous said...

Local Lib, It's a choice. I choose not to visit the decaying whale carcass. The way of all flesh is no mystery. I'd simply rather remember that magnificent animal as it was in life.

Anonymous said...

Kathy, it's not the state's whale. Long ago a concerned and very enlightened city council entered into a beach management agreement with the state re Linda Mar Beach. Because Pacifica can do it better, ya know? The agreement puts this city on the hook for maintenance, management, regulatory compliance and enforcement of federal and state laws and associated costs. Paid parking is a late effort to offset some of those costs--and only those costs. Is it a cash machine? Wait for the report. Uh huh. When does that beach agreement end? Seems like about now, give or take a year. Of course, with proper notice, it could be terminated anytime. What would happen if we got out of the beach mgmt business? People, everywhere, would know immediately. They'd sense it. But, don't worry. The folks who run Pacifica know the state would drain the Pacific and truck away all that sand, thus killing our thriving beach-town economy and leaving us broke and decaying. Like the whale. Our very own circle of life. All they wanna know, is, where do we sign?

Anonymous said...

"Pacifica (Linda Mar) is a State Beach. Why isn't the State attending to removing the whale?"

Because it's not on Pacifica State Beach. It's on Sharp Park beach, next to Mori's Point.

Anonymous said...

Kathy, it's not the state's whale

Actually there was a lawsuit about this years ago. The guy questioned the States authority to govern and give out and sell Fishing & Hunting Licenses. The guy said in his complaint that all the fish and game belonged to the residents of the state. The State said the government owns and has the right to govern licenses and limits etc.

The guy lost the lawsuit.

Anonymous said...

1153 Oh, just kill me now. LMAO at myself. I guess it's safe to go back to Linda Mar. Regardless, the city should get out of the beach mgmt business. Bad and unnecessary deal. Though not as bad as the one the whale got. At Sharp Park.

Anonymous said...

Remember the last time Pacifica called on the State to send back money. They laughed and laughed and said, possession is 95% of the law.

Kathy Meeh said...

1219, "Fishing license" related to removing a dead whale carcass is almost as confused as the 1153 "Sharp Park Beach, next to Mori Point" description, (probably both your comments).

A better waste of your time might be sending an email inquiry or making a phone call to the City. Let us know the City's response and resolve about removing the dead whale.

Kathy Meeh said...

147, is another confused or confusing comment. Please explain what you're talking about, and the follow-up. Otherwise if there is no intelligence to what you say, we'd like to know that too.

I also choose not to visit the whale carcass said...

So much fun here!

Anonymous said...

131 Hey, did we ever get back the $350K from the state for that little redevelopment misfire? Happened shortly before Tinfow arrived. Sent to the state in error as part of the wrap up of redevelopment agencies. Tinfow said she'd ask for it back but you know how the state is. I wonder where and how the city accounted for that faux pas? I bet you could move a whale with $350K.

Anonymous said...

6:46

When dead whales fly!

Anonymous said...

1:47

Ok Kathy who owns all the fish and game in a state?

I think the city of Pacifica and San Francisco,( the City of San Francisco was found liable to pay to fix the levee) and I think they have to be brought in on Sharp Park Beach issues also for some reason.

Kathy Meeh said...

654, and we're 99% sure the whale would be gone if it were on the Sharp Park Beach, San Francisco property.

But the whale is located on the beach near Mori Point. Mori Point. That would be Pacifica State Beach. That would be State, managed by Pacifica. Here's the correct link and description: Pacifica State Beach, "located off Highway 1 in downtown Pacifica", (included a telephone number).

Turns out the phone number is Pacifica Beaches and Recreation (PB&R). PB&R transferred the call to Public Works, where I left message. When Public Works responds, I'll advise.

Anonymous said...

Mori Point is not Pacifica State Beach. The web page you linked says,
"From San Francisco: Highway 1 South - Exit San Pedro Ave.
From Half Moon Bay: Take Highway 1 North - Exit San Pedro Ave."
San Pedro Avenue is Pedro Point. It's nowhere near Mori Point and Sharp Park Beach.

Kathy Meeh said...

946, whoever wrote the State of CA description of Pacifica State Beach apparently doesn't live here. And also doesn't understand Pacifica has no specific "downtown", and that Linda Mar Shopping Center is just that: a shopping center. Our City PB&R department should take a look at the State description.

But the location of the dead whale IS Pacifica State Beach (Linda Mar) near Mori Point, south of Taco Bell-- and we all know where that is. But you may prefer to stay confused, good luck with that!

Anonymous said...

The whale is north of Taco Bell, north of Rockaway, north of Mori Point on Sharp Park Beach. It is not south of Taco Bell, it is not Linda Mar, it is not Pacifica State Beach. Wow, talk about confused.

Sharon said...

The whale is on the beach at the end of OLD MORI POINT ROAD. It is not south of the Taco Bell or south of Rockaway it is south of the PIER and it is unclear to me where San Francisco's property line stops. It is located on the patch of beach that might be considered GGNRA directly adjacent to GGNRA'S snake preserve, however I don't know if the property lines extend into the water.

Anonymous said...

$4,000,000.00 is still missing. If candidate Lancelle shows up to mug for cameras and opine about the poor deceased whale at tonight's council session she should be publicly queried about her hand in the whale of a chunk of money that is still unaccounted for.

Anonymous said...

Oh, what the hell. Let's start the week right! Give Kathy her whale. Wherever she wants it to be. And 5 stars for Sharon for using the term snake preserve.

Anonymous said...

Trail to the Whale. Start at the pier and walk south towards Mori Point. Do not pass Mori Point.

Anonymous said...

647 Like in Sharknado?

Kathy Meeh said...

Sharon 1138, and others... then the news sources, such as NBC News, 4/15/15 are incorrect? "A 49-foot dead sperm whale washed up on a beach in Pacifica Tuesday, the Marine Mammal Center said. The center said the whale stranded at Mori Point on the south end of Linda Mar Beach (Pacifica State Beach) in Pacifica." And in follow-up Los Angeles Times, 4/21/15 is incorrect. "Vandals have spray-painted the corpse of a 48-foot male sperm whale that has been beached at Mori Point in Pacifica, Calif., for a week."

Oh brother, well I didn't walk the area, so apologies to all for for any misinformation. Meantime, I've left a message for PB&R for confirmation, and with that confirmation I'll add a note to the related articles. (Better the whale was not beached at busy Linda Mar Beach.)

Anonymous said...

Some people are never happy! You wanted the whale moved. We moved it! From Sharp Park Beach to Linda Mar. Yup, few nights ago. You think that was easy? It's not a sofa, ya know?

Anonymous said...

Kathy, NBC? Brian Williams? You been lied to.

Kathy Meeh said...

Okay, Mori Point, Sharp Park Beach, thanks Sharon, and others. I got stuck on the "south end of Linda Mar Beach" description, and translated "Mori Point" to "Pedro Point".

City PB&R/Terrie reconfirmed the correct, "bottom of the stairs, Mori Point/Sharp Park" location, and I've done what I can to clarify any article notations.

1257, can't blame Brian Williams' memory or the State for this one. Also, Best Beaches, upper right under "location", states ".. Highway 1, Pacifica, CA San Mateo County Sharp Park Beach is operated by the City of Pacifica." If so, this may be the City's dead whale to deal with. So far, City Public Works Department has yet to return my phone call inquiry.

Sharon said...

Glad you're calling seems be a lot silence on this and contaminated beaches during our high season is not something we need.

Kathy Meeh said...

Sharon, 4/27, 742 pm, the Agency is apparently GGNRA, their beach, according to the City of Pacifica, Public Works Clerk I spoke to today. (There was no return phone call response to this part of the whale inquiry last week.)

Status of the whale is unknown or undisclosed by the City. Hauled away or rotting? Unimportant detail? Based upon the silence, my guess is the whale is rotting. You'd think the City and the Tribune would be all over this story, but no. Anyone have an update?

Anonymous said...

Kathy, you're probably right. It's a rot in place strategy. Nothing new in Pacifica, which is probably why no politician is claiming credit.

Anonymous said...

It is not uncommon to let marine wildlife naturally decompose on the beach. Ridiculous attempts in other parts of the world have tried to explode these magnificent creatures. Get over it Fix Pacificams... it part of the natural cycle of life. As usual, you are making issues out of nothing.

Kathy Meeh said...

1037, then why not let all wild and domestic life decompose on that beach? Call it "Colma west". And in the ideology of "fixing nothing", described as the "natural cycle of life", wonder what nasty diseases we really could bring back to life?

As Sharon 742 mentioned, the silence about this dead whale on a our urban beach is remarkable. By comparison, (4/18/15), more rural Mendocino County hauled their dead whale off the beach in two (2) days. At minimum, the public deserves a public health explanation about doing nothing, saying nothing, acting as if dead whales decompose on urban beaches all the time. Geez!

Anonymous said...

Colma places them 6 feet under=no smell

Pacifica lets them rot on the beach!

Anonymous said...

SFGate.com (May 5) has a short blurb about a 2nd whale washed up about 1/2 mile from a beach parking lot; no other information given.

Anyone have an idea where as to what location our latest "guest" might have arrived.

Anonymous said...

There is another one on the Beach just South of the pier this morning.

Tom said...

Female Humpback it washed up on Monday.

Anonymous said...

Maybe we're ok? From the earlier article, removal of that whale in Mendocino sounds like it was more of a science project than clean-up by an efficient local government. The CA Academy of Science was involved. Wanted the skeleton for display at a new facility. Also, that was a killer whale which might be of more interest to the scientific community. Maybe the rot-in-place strategy is the current SOP for most of these situations. Anyhow, Sharp Park is not our beach. Park a whale at LM which is a state beach actually managed by this city and council will be all over it... hand-wringing and letter-writing. You betcha!

Anonymous said...

Pacifica Economic Recovery Plan:

"Eau de Pacifica." Bottle it; brand it; the answer to our financial woes.