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    Back to Orange County Line

    Orange County Line

    Surf Biddy? H.B. Cracks Down on Fun

    Gustavo Arellano on Huntington Beach's war against its partying reputation.

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    By Gustavo Arellano • Oct 14, 2013 • 3m Listen

    This past summer, the iconic U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach ended on a riotous note, as young men and women looted the downtown. Though locals tried to blame it on residents of the Inland Empire, city officials are now planning to scale back the U.S. Open and even trying to dissuade festival planners from setting up shop in H.B. Meanwhile, police commanders note that downtown drinking leads to an undue number of phone calls for assistance, straining an already-busy department. It's the latest round in an existential war that H.B. has for itself: how much fun is too much fun in a city built around tourism?

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Gustavo Arellano

      columnist, LA Times

      CultureNewsOrange County
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