Assateague Island has no lifeguards this summer amid Trump cuts
Why it matters: It's the height of summer tourist season, and Assateague — which has seen a record number of visitors in recent years — is a popular weekend escape for many Washingtonians.
Plus, the 100th annual nearby Chincoteague pony swim on July 30 is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors to the area.
The big picture: The National Park Service (NPS) — which operates federal beaches like Assateague — is scrambling to keep parks running amid a national staffing shortage due to President Trump's cuts to the federal workforce, public parks advocates warn.
NPS has seen a 24% drop in its permanent staff since January, according to the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).
Hiring for seasonal roles like lifeguards is down, too, with only about 4,500 roles filled of the almost 8,000 committed to by the administration.
This means delayed emergency response times and fewer resources to protect visitors, per NPCA.
State of play: The six lifeguard positions on each of Assateague 's Virginia and Maryland sides are unfilled, as is the chief lifeguard position.
There were recently life-threatening situations during which "good Samaritans" had to help until emergency services could arrive, Chincoteague Mayor Denise Bowden told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
By the numbers: Assateague lifeguards completed 24 rescues last year, and oversaw at least 21 incidents that would have otherwise been handled by local emergency medical services — which often take longer to reach the scene and aren't properly trained in ocean rescue.
What they're saying: "You can't put a price on somebody's life," Bowden told the Times-Dispatch. "You can't put a budget cut on somebody's life."
"The lack of lifeguards will undoubtedly result in death and injury that would otherwise be prevented," B. Chris Brewster, chair of the National Certification Committee at the United States Lifesaving Association, told the Washington Post of the national shortage.
The other side: "Visitors have always had access to unguarded beaches and guarded beaches even after lifeguards leave for the day. Lifeguard shortages are a nationwide concern even outside of our public lands," a NPS spokesperson told Axios. "We appreciate the public's understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all."
The NPS spokesperson recommended that visitors learn to identify riptides, stay alert for strong ocean currents, and never turn their backs to the ocean.
Zoom in: NPS never posted listings for the Assateague lifeguard positions, Ed Stierli, a regional director at the NPCA, told the Times-Dispatch.
The administration's initial federal hiring freeze came as NPS was recruiting seasonal workers. It later lifted this freeze, but local officials speculate it was too late by then for hiring.
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Assateague Island has no lifeguards this summer amid Trump cuts
Assateague Island National Seashore doesn't have any lifeguards this year, and local officials and residents are sounding the alarm about the risk this poses for beachgoers. Why it matters: It's the height of summer tourist season, and Assateague — which has seen a record number of visitors in recent years — is a popular weekend escape for many Washingtonians. Plus, the 100th annual nearby Chincoteague pony swim on July 30 is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors to the area. The big picture: The National Park Service (NPS) — which operates federal beaches like Assateague — is scrambling to keep parks running amid a national staffing shortage due to President Trump's cuts to the federal workforce, public parks advocates warn. NPS has seen a 24% drop in its permanent staff since January, according to the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). Hiring for seasonal roles like lifeguards is down, too, with only about 4,500 roles filled of the almost 8,000 committed to by the administration. This means delayed emergency response times and fewer resources to protect visitors, per NPCA. State of play: The six lifeguard positions on each of Assateague 's Virginia and Maryland sides are unfilled, as is the chief lifeguard position. There were recently life-threatening situations during which "good Samaritans" had to help until emergency services could arrive, Chincoteague Mayor Denise Bowden told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. By the numbers: Assateague lifeguards completed 24 rescues last year, and oversaw at least 21 incidents that would have otherwise been handled by local emergency medical services — which often take longer to reach the scene and aren't properly trained in ocean rescue. What they're saying: "You can't put a price on somebody's life," Bowden told the Times-Dispatch. "You can't put a budget cut on somebody's life." "The lack of lifeguards will undoubtedly result in death and injury that would otherwise be prevented," B. Chris Brewster, chair of the National Certification Committee at the United States Lifesaving Association, told the Washington Post of the national shortage. The other side: "Visitors have always had access to unguarded beaches and guarded beaches even after lifeguards leave for the day. Lifeguard shortages are a nationwide concern even outside of our public lands," a NPS spokesperson told Axios. "We appreciate the public's understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all." The NPS spokesperson recommended that visitors learn to identify riptides, stay alert for strong ocean currents, and never turn their backs to the ocean. Zoom in: NPS never posted listings for the Assateague lifeguard positions, Ed Stierli, a regional director at the NPCA, told the Times-Dispatch. The administration's initial federal hiring freeze came as NPS was recruiting seasonal workers. It later lifted this freeze, but local officials speculate it was too late by then for hiring.
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More than 800 homeowners in Pacific Palisades, Altadena and other areas affected by January's wildfires have applied for rebuilding permits, according to a Times analysis of local government permitting data. Of those, at least 145 have received approval to start construction on major repairs or replacement of their homes in the cities of Los Angeles, Malibu and Pasadena and in Altadena and other unincorporated areas of L.A. County, the analysis found. At events this week commemorating the fires' six-month mark, state and local leaders have celebrated the pace of cleanup efforts, touting their completion months ahead of schedule. Nearly 13,000 households were displaced by the Palisades and Eaton fires, which ripped through the communities Jan. 7 and 8. 'Now we turn the page to rebuilding, and we're doing it with a clear plan, strong partnerships and the urgency this moment demands,' Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. 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The Le Guiers, who were underinsured, benefited from having recent architectural plans, which saved them significant time and money. They made minor changes before submitting them to the city and received their permit 40 days later in early June. Their foundation was poured last week and lumber was delivered to the site soon after. Many of the homeowners who have secured permits similarly had recent plans to work from or other advantages, such as quick insurance payouts, according to several architects and contractors. State and local officials have attempted to streamline the permitting process, especially for those who want to build homes comparable to the ones destroyed, by waiving some development rules and fees and opening 'one-stop' centers that centralize planning and building reviews. Jason Somers, president of Crest Real Estate, a development firm, said the efforts have helped city plan checkers respond to applications with urgency. 'They are getting us permits quicker than we've ever seen before,' Somers said. Somers' firm is working on nearly 100 fire rebuilding projects, primarily in Pacific Palisades. Most of its clients, Somers said, aren't ready to submit plans because they're designing custom homes different from what they had previously. Somers said the city's response so far encouraged him, but the test would come as the volume of applications increased. 'We shall see what the workflow looks like when we see 1,000 projects,' he said. As of July 6, 389 homeowners had submitted applications to rebuild in the Palisades, roughly 8% of the 4,700 residential properties destroyed or majorly damaged by the fire, according to The Times' analysis. Property owners often need multiple permits. In addition to one for the main structure, the process might involve permits for demolition, electrical infrastructure, swimming pools, if included, and more. The Times' analysis counts one application for each address no matter how many supplemental permits may be required. Additionally, the L.A. County data are limited to submissions that already have cleared an initial review by county planners. Generally, applications at both the city and county level have been rising every week. The week of June 22 had the largest number for both the city and county with 36 and 34 submissions, respectively. The city has approved nearly a quarter of those it's received. L.A. County has issued permits for 15% of its 352 applications as of July 6, covering Altadena and unincorporated areas affected by the Palisades fire. In Pasadena, 20 property owners have submitted with two approved. For Malibu, 77 homeowners have submitted applications with none approved. On average, it's taken 55 days for the city of L.A. to issue a permit, including time it's waited for applicants to respond to corrections, The Times' analysis shows. The county process is slower. Once an application has been cleared by county planners, it's been another 60 days on average for a building permit to be issued, according to the analysis. Newsom and others, notably former L.A. mayoral candidate Rick Caruso, have criticized the pace of permitting, saying that recovery should be further along. On social media, fire survivors have lamented the red tape they've encountered. Roberto Covarrubias, who has lived with his family in Altadena for a decade, said county officials haven't delivered on their promises to make the process as fast as possible. His home was built in 2009 and he went to various offices seeking the original architectural plans — his paper copies burned in the fire — only to be told they didn't exist. Weeks later, after Covarrubias hired a new architect, the county said it had located electronic plans for his old house. Covarrubias wants to add a cellar to his new home to house the water heater and other machinery. County officials told him doing so would require additional soil testing, which he estimated would take a month and cost another $7,000. After three weeks of back-and-forth with his architect, Covarrubias said the county relented. Any delay matters, he said. He wants to get ahead of the rush for workers and materials. And his insurance company will not release his payout until his rebuild permits are approved. 'It's like a waterfall effect,' said Covarrubias, 50, an IT engineer. His project remains in the permitting pipeline. City and county officials have had to work through growing pains as they've attempted to implement the flurry of executive orders and programs designed to speed rebuilding. Property owners had waited weeks in the spring, for instance, for guidelines on accessory dwelling unit construction. Last month, after sustained pressure from homeowners, the county agreed to waive permitting fees and refund those who already have paid. (The city waived its fees in April.) Both the city and the county continue testing ballyhooed artificial intelligence software to offer instant corrections to initial permit applications, with activation scheduled for this month. The city has no immediate plans to hire additional staff or contractors to review permits because its staff is meeting its benchmarks for reviews, according to Gail Gaddi, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. 'However, we will continue to assess the needs of the department and will consider any adjustments as needed,' Gaddi said. By contrast, County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents areas affected by the Eaton fire, believes the county will need to add to its workforce to meet the demand. 'There needs to be additional staffing whether it's contractors or permanent staffing,' said Helen Chavez Garcia, a spokesperson for the supervisor. One of the more promising ways to expedite permitting is through preapproved architectural designs. The idea is that property owners could pick a model home that local governments already have signed off on, meaning the only further review needed was for issues specific to individual sites. The process has been credited for helping rapid recovery in Santa Rosa after the 2017 Tubbs fire. Here, Somers' firm is developing a suite of 50 plans called Case Study 2.0, named after the mid-20th century showcase of Southern California architecture. A newly formed San Gabriel Valley nonprofit, the Foothill Catalog Foundation, separately is hoping to design 50 model homes by the end of the year, said Alex Athenson, an architect and co-founder of the initiative. The catalog has had one design, a three-bedroom bungalow called 'The Lewis,' approved by L.A. County. Athenson expects to submit nine more by the end of the month. If a homeowner chooses a preapproved home, Athenson said, the entire permitting process could take two weeks or less. 'It would be incredible if homeowners can have that ease of access to starting construction,' Athenson said.
