Thank You Mister Mayor:
My Name is Amory Hanson, and I am a candidate for Huntington Beach City Council in 2020 and a member of the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board.
I rise today in opposition to Item XXIVB, The proposal by Miss Fritzal to sublease the International Surfing Museum to the Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center’s Board of Directors.
I recognize the value of promoting Huntington Beach’s surfing history, especially in light of the International Olympic Committee’s recent decision to make surfing an Olympic Sport for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.
While I greatly respect the efforts by Messrs. Michael and Eshelman and the Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center’s Board of Trustees to preserve San Clemente’s Surfing history, I believe that Huntington Beach must maintain and retain local control over Huntington Beach’s own surfing history. There are differences between the histories and beaches of Huntington Beach and San Clemente that must be appreciated.
Huntington Beach is The 4th most populous city in Orange County, and it must increase it’s cultural output.
Years ago, before the Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau created the somewhat plain nickname “surf City,” there was a time when Huntington Beach was the city of expanding horizons.
Huntingtonians seeked knowledge. They created chariots. They explored the moon and the sea. They shared that knowledge with ourselves, with the world and with the next generation.
Mr. Slater, a legendary surfer, once said “There's always some wave [a surfer] wants to surf.” so it must be for the viewer of theatres , for the spectator of arenae and yes, for the visitor of musea.
I urge the Huntington Beach City Council to vote no on Item XXIVB or at minimum, to refer Miss Fritzal’s proposal to the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board.
