Where's The Real Surf City, USA?

A dispute over the slogan has California's Huntington Beach and Santa Cruz up in arms.

1 minute read

July 20, 2005, 1:00 PM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"City officials here in Huntington Beach last week announced a new worldwide advertising offensive marketing the town as 'Surf City, USA.' It comes complete with government-registered trademarks and signed deals with merchandisers of everything from snorkels-and-fins to furniture. The move could bring hundreds of thousands of dollars into town coffers.

The only trouble is, officials in coastal Santa Cruz, several hundred miles north, say their town is the true 'Surf City, USA'" They have filed a formal complaint with the US Commerce Department, challenged Huntington Beach city council members to a surf-off, and opened a propaganda campaign -- albeit a friendly one -- of their own."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Tuesday, July 19, 2005 in The Christian Science Monitor

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