Unless we work to cohesively protect the island as a whole, we will never truly be safe. Let’s work with our neighbors, come up with solutions that work for the entire island, and approach our government leaders as a united community. This doesn’t mean every community is bound to the same means of protection.

Let’s work with the Army Corps to develop a plan that best meets the needs of each part of this island and then let them come in and do the work.  It’s time to start to think outside the box.  We are too smart and too talented not to.  Our island should become a model barrier island for the east coast as opposed to an island who rushed to make things look good for summer and left itself open to the same problems it had in the past.

Kupferman is the president of the Long Beach Surfer’s Association