Volleyball goddess Gabrielle Reece and her surfer husband Laird Hamilton are just two of the water-sports enthusiasts trying to stop the closure of Paddle Diva, a paddle-board rental operation at the Shagwong Marina in East Hampton.
Responding to pressure from neighbors, the town claims the business violates arcane zoning laws.
But clients of Paddle Diva owner Gina Bradley see her plight as part of an overall crackdown on fun.
“Cyril’s was closed down over minor infringements, and a team of 21-year-old cops lines the thoroughfare near my house, waiting for me to go over 35 mph so they can issue me a ticket in the winter,” groused one local. “We’ve become a police state.”
Bradley recently obtained a stay of enforcement, allowing Paddle Diva to operate while the parties await a decision.