Residents and officials in Daly City are confronting a fence that has abruptly obstructed the community's access to a beloved trail leading to Thornton State Beach. According to SFGATE, San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa shared that the barrier's instigator is none other than Luke Brugnara, a figure notorious for his criminal past, including art fraud and tax evasion. While Brugnara claims he is part of the group that owns the property, Daly City officials have cited a violation, as no permits were obtained for the fence, which may be encroaching on public land.
The situation intensified with the discovery of threatening signage warning of shooting "trespasser(s)" on sight. The disturbing sign posted along the fence escalated concerns among locals. Canepa expressed his dismay at the transformation of a recreational space into a no-go zone, in a statement obtained by The New York Post, equating the sudden fencing with turning the area into "San Quentin". Although Brugnara was arrested for criminal threats and weapons violations and later released on bail, it remains unclear if his detainment was directly related to the fence installation.
The ownership of the land linked to the suddenly erected barrier is murky. Donna Pope, listed as one of the property owners, reportedly was unaware of the fence installation and has since accused Brugnara, who is not listed as an owner, of trespassing, according to SFGATE. At a Daly City council meeting, officials stressed the importance of verifying all facts through inspection and requiring documents from the property owner, which would be subject to review by city agencies.
In response to these developments, the California Coastal Commission has initiated an investigation, as confirmed by spokesperson Joshua Smith in a correspondence with SFGATE. The Commission takes public access breaches seriously and is collaborating with Daly City to determine the necessary actions. They have noted troubling details, such as the placement of RVs, vegetation clearance, and the presence of unauthorized artificial turf, that suggest a broader infringement on the coastal resource protection zone.
