Seattle residents asking mayor for nude beach

The sad this is that they'll likely legalize marijuana before they legalize thongs.

 I think a nude beaches are more likely than legalized marijuana, for one is not against the law once they designate the beaches, and the other is against State and Federal law or policy. 

Don't complain about what is the top issue. If you want to change the priority, create an ID, (it is free) and log in to vote!

 Sandman could be right, JM.  California has been relaxing their cannabis prohibition and the present federal administration is not fighting them.  And a mellower Seattle might have less of a problems with thongs.

In today's economy, many areas want to find new ways to increase tourism.  I believe a sure way to increase tourism (and the associated tourist dollars) would be for communities where nudism is acceptable to do whatever is necessary to open a selected area as nude beaches or other nude-use public lands.  These should be made safe by means of lifeguards for water safety and rangers, sheriffs, or local police for land based issues.  Strict definition and enforcement of no sex, no drugs, or whatever rules need to be in place so the downfalls learned at other nude beaches can be avoided.  Having these new nude beaches in areas where no nude beaches now exist on both the east and west coasts, and similar recreation areas in other parts of the country, would provide more work and tourist monies in those areas.  However I do not know how these legal nude beaches would effect existing nude beaches, nudist resorts, or other industries such as air travel.  Most people interested in the nude lifestyle would probably visit near-by nude beaches in preference to traveling long distances to to to others.  These visits might be more frequent than the visits these people would otherwise make to existing nude beaches available in North America, keeping tourist monies closer to home.

What is needed in most states would be changes to appropriate state laws to permit designated nude use areas to be set up without changing existing laws which restrict or regulate nudity definitions and penalties outside the newly designated areas.  These laws at the state level could also dictate distance from public roads and other public lands, required "buffer" areas, signage requirements, etc. to insure that only persons intentionally planning to visit the designated areas are permitted to see those who chose to take advantage of the nude use area, etc.  I also believe that the areas created by such laws should require some sort of local vote before they can be implimented.  Perhaps because of the additional policeing requirements needed to keep these areas safe, a nominal entry fee would be appropriate since the level of protection would be maintained higher than other non-nude areas.

Excellent ideas, Traci, but I am not going to hold my breath waiting.  Even areas tat pride themselves on their "tolerance" often go ballistic when anything like this is mentioned.  Discrimination in the US, based on clothing (or not) choice is much greater now than it was a generation ago.  Of course a nude beach would be good for business, but, no matter how bad the economy is, my guess is that most people would rather be out of work than acknowledge that a nude beach might create some additional jobs in the area.  Sad, but true, I am afraid.

It is hard to imagine swimming or sunning in a thong causing a stir at almost any seattle beach, although for most of this spring it is hard to imagine going to a Seattle beach in much less than head to toe goretex, let alone a thong.  Seattle has had an unofficail nude beach for quite a few years now.   On the nice days we have had there have been a couple of dozen people at the co beach, a few clothed, a few male and female thongers and most people felt free to do without swimwear.  When I walked back to the beach closest to the parking area there was topfree use without any apparant conflicts.  An officially recognized CO beach would be great.  Until it happens it looks like Seattleites with just keep voting with their feet, or tops or bottms;)  The CO beach has a great user group.  The regulars all know each other, are friendly to newcomers, keep an eye out for shady characters and I can't imagine having anyone bother your stuf even if gone for a lenghty walk or swim.  The CO beach users haul away tons of trash too.  The CO users are a real asset to the beach and the beach is a real asset to the city.  Seattle's beach is a tiny fraction the size of Wreck but is a very nice ammenity and a wonderful little place to spend a sunny day in Seattle.