San Diego’s beaches are crowded as summer finally heats up, and many of the beachgoers are from Arizona. Tourism officials were worried controversy over that state’s new immigration law might put a dent in the number of Arizonians visiting the city.
There were umbrellas planted in the sand every few yards on Coronado Beach Thursday. Many of the people under those umbrellas were from one place: Arizona.
Cities and organizations across California have condemned Arizona’s new immigration law that goes into effect later this month. They fear it will lead to racial profiling.
Beau Wilcox was visiting San Diego from Tucson, Ariz. and says summer heat won out over the hot button immigration issue.
“Yeah, it’s real hot. It’s what like 105, 108? We actually did consider boycotting California but the weather was too much,” he said.
Almost 2.5 million Arizona residents visited San Diego last year and some business owners feared a backlash.
Yasmin Parsi’s family was visiting San Diego from Scottsdale. She said boycotting the city never crossed her mind.
“We’ve been coming here for 10 years. I know why they want to boycott and I don’t agree with the laws that are being passed there. So, I’m kind of embarrassed,” Parsi said.
Arizona visitors spent more than $700 million in San Diego last year.
