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| 26 February 2002 - The San Diego Union-Tribune Panelists debate plan to ban booze at beaches Disputes arise over crime statistics By Brian Hazle The pros and cons of a referendum that would temporarily ban alcohol on some city beaches were debated, sometimes heatedly, last night. The debate at Lewis Middle School in Allied Gardens warmed up when panel members on both sides of the issue disputed the accuracy of each other's crime statistics. The event, which was moderated by the League of Women Voters, drew a crowd of three dozen that appeared to be largely in favor of Proposition G, the measure to ban beach alcohol. Proposition G on the March 5 ballot seeks approval of a round-the-clock ban on alcohol in parts of Mission Beach and Pacific Beach on a trial basis to replace the existing ban on alcohol from 8 p.m. to noon. Proponents of the ban say removing alcohol from the beaches will reduce under-age drinking and crime in the beach communities. "Families and (senior citizens) need to be free to enjoy the beach without being exposed to alcohol," said Robert Lasher, a panel member and resident of Pacific Beach. Opponents say an all-out ban would punish responsible drinkers for the actions of a few who misbehave. "Today the issue is about rights – your rights to do what you want in a safe manner," said Robert Chubinsky, vice president of the Mission Beach Town Council. Each of the panel's six members – three on each side of the issue – was allowed three minutes for opening and closing statements and two minutes to answer questions posed by the audience. Questions ranged from whether the ban would affect tourism to whether better enforcement of existing laws would reduce crimes at the beach. If the measure is approved, the city would impose the test ban until Dec. 31, unless the City Council acts to extend it. The referendum will be decided by a simple majority. Last April, the City Council imposed an 18-month test ban, but opponents gathered more than the 51,729 voter signatures required to force the council to rescind the action or put it to a public vote. The ban would cover beaches in Mission Beach on the ocean side from the south jetty to Pacific Beach Drive, and on the bay side from the south jetty north to Zanzibar Court. It also would cover part of Pacific Beach from Pacific Beach Drive north to Felspar Street. The city manager could grant drinking permits for special occasions. According to police statistics, Mission Beach topped the city's neighborhoods with 10,374 such crimes from 1998 to 2000, while Pacific Beach followed with 7,019. In La Jolla, where a 24-hour-a-day ban has been in place since 1991, 978 such crimes were reported during the same three-year period. However, opponents of Proposition G say those statistics are skewed because they cover more than just the beach area, where the ban is proposed. |
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