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| 21 February 2002 - Peninsula Beacon & Beach and Bay Press Public vote to decide alcohol ban By Zach Maul After nearly 17 months of votes, heated debates, name-calling and re-votes, the proposed trial alcohol ban will yet again come down to a single vote March 5. Sand Diego voters will ultimately determine the fate of the controversial 24-hour, trial alcohol ban when they vote on Proposition G on the upcoming ballot. The ban would prohibit alcohol consumption on Mission Beach and Pacific Beach north to Felspar Street through December 31, 2002. If approved, the ban would go into effect immediately. Proponents of Proposition G claim that alcohol consumption increases rowdiness, property damage, fights and DUI’s in the beach area and generally makes beaches less inviting to families. They are quick to point to San Diego Police Department reports, which show that Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach account for nearly 40 percent of all alcohol-related citations and arrests in San Diego. “If you looked at what happened up and down the coast, we’re just about the last city in Southern California that still allows drinking on the beach,” Mission Beach Town Council member William Bradshaw said. Bob Glaser is one of many San Diegans who feel the ban would merely punish responsible drinkers for the actions of a small minority of irresponsible beachgoers. “It’s an unnecessary law that was rejected by the town councils if every beach community,” he said. After the San Diego City Council voted 5-3 in favor of the trial ban in April 2001, Glaser, owner of the political consulting company the La Jolla Group, organized the “Ban the Ban” campaign to push the issue to a public vote. On May 31, 2002 – one day before the ban was set to go into effect – a petition containing 52,000 signatures from people opposing the ban was turned into the city clerk’s office. The clerk verified the minimum number of those signatures needed to put the issue on the upcoming ballot. In July 2001, the city council voted unanimously to put the controversial issue on the March 2002 ballot, much to the dismay of Bradshaw. “I’m disappointed it came to this,” he said. “I think this city is really behind the times.” Many in favor of the ban claim that the alcohol industry is behind the “Ban the Ban” signature campaign. They argue that public policy is being formed by liquor stores and bars, which might suffer if drinking is prohibited on the beaches. “The opposition got a lot of money from the liquor stores,” Bradshaw said. Glaser contends “a variety of community businesses and individual donor,” financed the campaign. He denies allegations that liquor stores were behind “Ban the Ban.” Adding that he is pleased voters will have the final say on Proposition G. “It’s a victory that we’re on the ballot, but the ultimate victory will be defeating the unnecessary law,” he said. The city council originally approved the ban, despite the fact that the Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach town councils voted against it. The Mission Beach Town Council originally voted in favor of the ban in November 2000, but public outcry resulted in the ban being shot down in a later re-vote. San Diego police reports show that beaches where drinking is prohibited, La Jolla Shores for example, have significantly lower numbers of alcohol-related arrests. “If it passes, and I have absolutely no idea whether it will or not, there’s going to be substantial improvement,” Bradshaw said. “And so for that I’m glad. I’m glad we’re taking a shot at it.” Opponent’s claim the city needs to do a better job enforcing current laws before it starts making new laws. Drinking is currently allowed at Mission Beach, Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach from noon to 8 p.m. daily. |
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