THE ONLY ROAD TO MARTINS BEACH, A HALF MOON BAY AREA POPULAR SURFING SPOT, WILL REMAIN CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. THAT, ACCORDING TO A RULING BY SAN MATEO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE GERALD BUCHWALD. THE DECISION WAS BASED ON A MID-19TH CENTURY RULING, THE 1848 TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO, THAT REQUIRES THAT MEXICAN LAND GRANTS BE OBSERVED, AS LONG AS THE OWNER FILED A CLAIM. SUCH A CLAIM WAS ALLEGEDLY FILED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER, AND THE LAWYERS FOR PRESENT OWNER SAY THEY ARE GRATIFIED WITH THE DECISION. A LAWYER FOR SEVERAL SURFERS AND THE FRIENDS OF MARTINS BEACH, PLAN TO APPEAL THE RULING, ARGUING THAT BEACH ACCESS RIGHTS ORE VIOLATED UNDER THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION.
