Visitor Comments

Jack Browne   Mission Beach

Posted at 12:41pm on Saturday, November 10th, 2007

I have lived in Mission Beach for the past 14 years and have dealt with so many instances of alcohol-fueled aggression, garbage, urination, noise, and (underage) binge-drinking that I considered moving. With the exception of a dawn patrol surf session, I go to La Jolla Shores now where the beach culture is radically different - it feels safe.

Alcohol should be allowed in all parks or none. As it is, we are the destination place to get drunk and we have become a "cesspool of San Diego" according to at least one out of area newspaper. We can turn it around. A year of alcohol-free beaches will be a beautiful thing. I may actually stick around for a major summer holiday.

Reena Kaplowitz   Pacific Beach

Posted at 9:39am on Monday, November 5th, 2007

I am a PB homeowner and go to the beach daily- Please support the complete alcohol ban on our beaches! The other plans are bound to cause more enforcement problems and confusion amongst locals and visitors. We have all seen the devastation that alcohol is causing daily not only on the beach but the roads and neighborhoods once people leave all soused up. The sad fact is it is the FEW who are responsible sane drinkers not the many. As others have stated there are plenty of drinking options just off the beach if people need to drink. I would also like to say that I do vote and when election day arrives your vote on this will be a factor in my decision.

Sally   OB 6 yrs., PB 28 yrs

Posted at 6:37pm on Saturday, November 3rd, 2007

I am tired of dealing with the alcohol problems on the beaches, bays and parking lots in the beach area. It is no longer fun to go the beach for families, and certainly not appropriate for a single female after dark. Even my fiance will not go to the beaches with me any more, he finds it so disgusting and distracting. The ruling needs to be for NO ALCOHOL 365 days a year, not just holidays. Life is not going to change until we make a point of it BIG time. Getting it upheld is another story.

JD Nelson   Pacific Beach

Posted at 11:49am on Friday, November 2nd, 2007

I strongly support your proposal to prohibit alcohol year-round at all San Diego beaches, parks and bays. I urge you to make every effort to see that this outcome is achieved through the creation and implementation of a new city-wide ordinance.



I know you are familiar with the problem attested to by statistics of violence, DUIs, deaths and injuries as well as anecdotal stories from residents. I urge you to support a year-round alcohol ban on all city beaches as a first step towards improving the situation. To critics, I say let us try it for a year or two. If it does not improve things, we can always change it.

Best regards.

Mark and Carrie Heinze   Pacific Beach

Posted at 11:48am on Friday, November 2nd, 2007

Our Pacific Beach area is out of control. Please ban alcohol 365 days a year. We live in PB but use La Jolla beaches for our family outings. Visitors from out of town are amazed that we allow drinking on our beaches in PB.

Christina OKeefe   Mission Beach, CA

Posted at 11:46am on Friday, November 2nd, 2007

Why do we hear from the police chief and not the lifeguards?

Name Withheld Upon Request   Pacific Beach

Posted at 11:45am on Friday, November 2nd, 2007

Our family often frequents La Jolla beaches on or around holidays, because of the alcohol-induced behavior on pacific beach area beaches. I strongly support a year around ban against alochol on public beaches and parks. I would think the local bars would be happy to support this!

Joey Davis   Allied Gardens - San Diego, CA

Posted at 11:45am on Friday, November 2nd, 2007

I am a 43 year old native San Diegan. I have a wife and 3 daughters and used to enjoy Mission Beach. In fact, I would like to see the day when Mission Beach is a family friendly place to enjoy the beach, Belmont park and food. There is no shortage of alcohol in the surrounding bars and restaurants. If people want to drink it should be done in a place of business, not in public. I have had to take my family to La Jolla shores, a longer drive, to enjoy a day at the beach because of the gang bangers, drunks and scum that has been drawn to the Mission Beach/PB area, and if you think it is not alcohol related you are crazy. I love a cold beer on the weekends and on the beach, but am happy to forgo my beer for the good of San Diegos most preci... click to read more »

Name Withheld Upon Request   Pacific Beach

Posted at 11:43am on Friday, November 2nd, 2007

I am 37 but have lived in PB since I was 22 and have been waiting for the day to see the beaches in my neighborhood a "drunk fest". Even at 22, I knew it was unwise to have alcohol at the beach. I drank but could and scan still do away with it for the "greater benefit" to this community. It is time to put an end to it so they will be cleaner and safer for us all. Those that dont live here I imagine dont quite understand what residents deal with on a weekly basis.

Lisa Stadler   Bay Park

Posted at 9:09am on Thursday, November 1st, 2007

I would like to see Version D supported at the community meeting this Monday at City Hall. This option is safest for all beach-goers. I feel that there are plenty of nice places to enjoy a drink that are just off the beach, so it is unneccesary to drink on the beach. This will also keep the beaches less rowdy, so that all people can enjoy them - not just people who want to party.

Jerry Hall   Pacific Beach

Posted at 9:37pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

I have been lucky to live in the Pacific Beach community for 17 years – unfortunately a renter but, a long-term resident nonetheless.

Many people in the beach communities thrive on the alcohol-culture. The beaches are known to be the place to come and let your hair down, get plastered drunk and trash the place. The city has enabled this behavior for decades. They clean the trash and comb the sand every morning. Seemingly everything looks fine (well most everything – except for the graffiti, vomit, vandalized property and all the other damage that goes on every weekend).

I have seen so many behaviors from drunk people on and around the beach I am not sure where to start. Fights over stupid things (i.e. one guy talking to another guys ... click to read more »

Andrew Chotiner   Mission Beach, CA

Posted at 9:09pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

I have been coming to San Diego to visit my extended family since 1960 and moved to Mission Beach after I retired in 2001. I live and play in the area bounded east and west by the bay and the ocean and from the jetty in south mission to the cliffs at the foot of Law Street. I am not a flaming prohibitionist. I am a Veteran and I respect the rights of everyone to express their opinion regardless of whether it agrees with mine or not. This is my opinion.

I feel the out of control consumption of alcohol in the beach area and the ensuing behavior has made us an unsafe destination for too many people. Those of us that live in this area know that the behavior shown by those who behaved badly on Labor Day weekend is not an isolated case of this... click to read more »

Robert Fremont, DDS   Pacific Beach

Posted at 8:58pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

Lifeguards have a hard enough job saving people on our beaches. They should not have to deal with drunk people on the beaches and in the water. Most of them are ungrateful after being saved from drowning.

Candy Hogan   Pacific Beach

Posted at 8:56pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

Please stop the alcohol. I have witnessed public urination and defecation, terrible language! Public drunkenness is not allowed anywhere else. Why here? My grandchildren should be allowed to enjoy the beach and be safe too. I pay taxes.

Angela Kidd   San Diego, CA

Posted at 8:53pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

I believe that we should have Year Round Alcohol Free Beaches. I live in Pacific Beach and have two small kids, ages 1 and 3 years old. Pacific Beach is not an inexpensive part of town. Residents spend the extra money to have a great location by the beach and do not want the image to be trashed by people drinking and being disorderly. They speed down my street and I begin to wonder if it is safe enough for my family. The bums hang out all day at the beach, drinking their beer and harassing the locals for money. There are TONS of bars in Pacific Beach, if someone wants to drink, let it be in a facility that can regulate the age and quantity a person drinks. Why is it necessary to allow drinking on the beach? Go to a bar!! They are b... click to read more »

Richard and Victory Lareau   San Diego, CA

Posted at 8:50pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

Dear City Council President Peters,

We have been property owners on Bayside Walk for over 35 years and now are eight year residents at [address removed by SafeBeaches.org]. We have watched the Mission Beach area become increasingly affected by the effects of those abusing alcohol--mostly underaged students who consider the beach and bayside as their party venue.

Many property owners are rebuilding but the overall quality of life here is hampered by the constant partying and lack of responsibility exhibited by drunken behavior. This community could be similar to La Jolla, Laguna/Newport Beach, etc. but is lacking the quality of a cohesive community because of slumlords and alcohol.

What is it that all the alcohol-free beach co... click to read more »

Jeff E. Oostyen   Pacific Beach

Posted at 8:48pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

The pro-alcohol individuals state A SMALL PERCENTAGE of people using alcohol are causing problems. They also state that an alcohol ban will decrease the influx of non-residents that help the community thrive. Our beaches have a reputation as a place to use and abuse alcohol. Large numbers of people come to the beaches on holidays and weekend. Add the individuals who live here to the influx then take A SMALL PERCENTAGE of them and you will end up with a large enough number of trouble makers to make this community unsafe.

Marty Fisher   Imperial Beach, CA

Posted at 8:45pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

If nothing else, a lesson learned from the recent fires is that we all benefit from working together. San Diego needs ONE year-round policy of alcohol-free beaches...no more mixed messages to visitors, students and residents.

Clarence Eisenbeisz   San Diego, CA

Posted at 8:36pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

I am very much concerned that the alcohol industry money will play an important roll in how our council members vote on this one. I sincerely hope that they ban alcohol from all beaches. I have lived in pacific beach for 40 years and have went to the beach on numerous occasions but will not go any more unless they ban alcohol. My home town paper carried a head line that read. PACIFIC BEACH, CESSPOOL OF SAN DIEGO.
How is that for attracting tourists. I can not attend the meeting when the alcohol ban comes up as I will be out of town but my vote is for total ban of alcohol on all our beaches.

Kelly Patri, Bone Appetit Ocean Beach Pe   Ocean Beach

Posted at 8:35pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

I just wanted to write and let you know that as an Ocean Beach resident and business owner on Newport Avenue, we support alcohol free beaches, and we encourage and support whatever campaigns or methods you endeavor in your efforts to effect this measure. Thank you for all you do for our community.

Andrew Smith   Cincinnati, OH

Posted at 8:35pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

I have enjoyed many vacations at Mission Beach with my California family who own one of the beach cottages that made Mission Beach a family destination for decades. Every time I visit, I have been so impressed with the neighborliness of the Courts, the welcoming attitude of the Beach folks and residents of the Court where we stay, and of the family orientation out on the beaches.

But, what is happening? Something called an "octobong" was there 2 weeks ago, along with its owner and a pay-for-party tent. In the aftermath was a "ton" of trash that the city and the local community pay to clean up. Are you trying to compete with Fort Lauderdale to become the "college destination" on the Left Coast? I hope not.

The Mission Beach community s... click to read more »

Alan and Abby Murray   Mission Beach, CA

Posted at 8:33pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

Kevin, Keep up the good work. We are behind you 100%. Please remind your fellow council members and the mayor that their districts have already acted and seen the benefits of removing alcohol from the equation at public parks and beaches (La Jolla). None of them have suggested reversing those decisions--for good reason: IT WORKS!

Removing alcohol from parks such as Balboa Park has led to more safe and peaceful environments.

Jim and Beth Palmer   Pacific Beach

Posted at 8:32pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

As 7-year residents of Pacific Beach we are tired of having our community invaded by disorderly, drunken party-goers every week-end and holiday. They invade in mass, wake us up at all times of the night with their noise, leave trash and vomit on our sidewalks and beaches, and use foul language to harass and intimidate those of us who call PB our home. We pay large amounts of money for mortgages and property taxes to live here and we are often unable to use and take our families to our own beaches due to these inconsiderate visitors.

Name Withheld Upon Request   Pacific Beach

Posted at 8:32pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

Enough time has been given for local Police to enforce the existing regulations and it has not made a dent in the problem. Our family actually avoids the beach on certain summer weekends and holidays. That is not something we can live with! Please make this issue a priority and lets make our beaches user-friendly for families once again. Thank you for your consideration.

Mr. and Mrs James A. Viano   Pacific Beach

Posted at 8:31pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

It is our profound hope that the city council will not allow the proponents of alcohol to continue to ruin our beach communities. We totally support a complete ban on alcohol at our beaches. It is the only way to save our beach.

Laura Hershey   Ocean Beach

Posted at 8:31pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

It is true, plenty of good clean fun can be had at the beach without alcohol.

Name Withheld Upon Request   Scripps Ranch, CA

Posted at 8:30pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

Brian- I live in Scripps Ranch, however visit the beach frequently to surf. I do not want to deal with drunks anymore. One of my friends was attacked during the 4th of July "celebration" on Mission Bay and almost killed by a drunken thug.
Please push forth legislation to ban alcohol on our beaches. Thanks

Philip Oppenheim   University City, CA

Posted at 8:29pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

It is unfortunate that we need to curtail our liberties, but when there are riots on the beach and July fourth has become a drunken melee, it is time to make our (and let me stress OUR) beaches family-friendly again. Let me add that if you vote against an alcohol ban, I hope you are doing so because of concern over restrictions of basic freedoms and not because liquor store owners are making campaign contributions.

Name Withheld Upon Request   San Diego, CA

Posted at 8:28pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

I used to live in Mission Beach and moved because of the crime caused by drunk homeless people and the careless students who would drink a lot and drive drunk.

Marilyn & Richard Zanchetta   Pacific Beach

Posted at 8:28pm on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

Now that our children are teenagers, we are continually concerned that they may be tempted to indulge in underage drinking by the crazy alcohol parties that freely go on at our local Law St. beach. We watch out for them, but at this point in their childhood we cannot watch every move. We are deeply concerned with the decline in our communitys reputation and quality of life. Please consider these things as you make a decision on this proposed ordinance.