Ownership of Bruce s Beach lots
RE: Here s how state, LA County hope to return Bruce s Beach land to descendants of original Black owners,
The Beach Reporter web page, 4/9/21
With state and county officials announcing efforts to transfer ownership of two publicly owned lots to descendants of the Bruce family, I am bemused, legally bemused. With a career in municipal law, this is especially so. Hereâs why.
First, when the City of Manhattan Beach conveyed these two lots to the state in 1949, the deed contained restrictions that the use of the property could only be for a public beach or public park. Such restrictions may ârun with the landâ and may be enforced by our city or a city resident. So, the county may be legally prohibited from giving these two lots to a private party for private use.