Wealthy homeowners on idyllic island beloved by the Obamas could lose stunning private beach as ugly civil war takes new twist

It's a picturesque land wherever nan likes of Bill Murray, Reese Witherspoon and nan Obamas often fly to flight nan stresses of life.  

But nan clear bluish waters of Martha's Vineyard belie a murky civilian war.

A period ago, 2 able families pinch oceanside mansions carved retired nan formation overlooking Oyster Pond, claiming onshore authorities to ample slices of nan shoreline. 

But nan tides of clip person changed nan image - rather virtually - arsenic erosion, storms, and rising oversea levels person gradually pushed nan backstage formation into nationalist territory. 

Richard Friedman, a resident astatine nan halfway of nan conflict who is besides a famed Boston existent property mogul, is now pushing to liberate nan beaches to nan wide public.

Friedman's conflict began successful nan 1980s erstwhile he purchased spot successful Edgartown, believing his deed gave him nan authorities to a obstruction formation straddling Oyster Pond and nan Atlantic Ocean.

His neighbors disagreed, arguing that nan onshore was theirs, and nan Massachusetts elite took their civilian warfare to nan courts wherever they hashed it retired for decades. 

But 2016 marked a watershed infinitesimal successful nan dispute. Though still locked successful a ineligible stalemate pinch his neighbors, Friedman's position shifted pinch nan sands. 

He decided that, since nan backstage beaches had by this constituent moved northbound to remainder betwixt 2 bodies of h2o considered 'public' nether Massachusetts rule - Oyster Pond and Jobs Neck Pond - nary backstage entity should beryllium capable to laic declare to them. 

Friedman escalated his statement to lawmakers, pushing for authorities defining a obstruction formation which moves connected to nationalist onshore arsenic nationalist property. 

The fiery conflict has travel to a caput successful caller weeks aft nan passing of a measure which seeks to explain entree rights, and redefine what counts arsenic nationalist land.

'I judge nan biggest triumph astir this measure is that this is simply a triumph for nan public,' Friedman told nan Boston Globe. 

Jeff Flynn, 1 of nan trustees opposing Friedman's bill, said 'any suggestion' that it's astir expanding entree for nan broader nationalist is 'simply not credible'.

'There is nary nationalist liking successful this legislation,' he told nan Globe.

'Rather, location are only bully sounding but confusing words that, erstwhile cautiously read, are trying to make a silk purse retired of a sow's ear.' 

Jim McManus, who besides represents nan able neighbors, said nan measure would 'wreak havoc connected nan spot authorities of thousands of group successful Massachusetts' and expose taxpayers to suits for onshore takings.   

Friedman deed back, saying nan measure simply clarifies nan nationalist would person a formation that 'has been masquerading arsenic private'.

'For me, this is not a individual vendetta aliases an ego trip, it is simply awesome nationalist argumentation that benefits citizens crossed nan Commonwealth,' he told nan Globe. 

'Due to world warming, oversea level rising, etc., location is simply a request to reside and explain this issue,' he said. 'I americium proud to person played a domiciled pinch others successful these efforts.' 

If nan measure reaches nan Senate, it would request to beryllium passed by Governor Maura Healey.  

Friedman's squad estimates that if it passes, 28 akin beaches successful Massachusetts will past beryllium considered backstage spot alternatively than public.