A privately owned company cut the ribbon on Coronado’s beach bonfire permit program outside the Hotel Del on Tuesday and urged San Diego to follow the Crown City’s lead.
The founder of Blulite Bonfires, along with the Coronado Chamber of Commerce, spoke Tuesday about the potential of permitting beach bonfires for other cities — especially as San Diego considers eliminating the maintenance of them from its budget.
“Instead of losing vital beach experiences due to budget constraints, San Diego has a real opportunity to partner with professional service providers,” said Rene Contreras, founder and chief executive of Blulite Bonfires.
“We’re not here to criticize, but to collaborate — offering solutions that help the city maintain beach services in a sustainable, community-focused way.”
Contreras will propose a pilot program for the larger city across the bay: a hybrid system allowing licensed and qualified vendors to operate in designated commercial zones.
She said the proposal “also responds to concerns around current fire and sidewalk vending ordinances that hinder local businesses from operating on public beaches.”
