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City Councilman Kevin Faulconer and City Attorney Mike Aguirre proposed banning alcohol at city beaches a day after a beachfront melee in Pacific Beach led to 16 arrests.
Faulconer, at a midday press conference that was interrupted frequently by supporters and foes of a ban, said the riot made it clear to him that permitting drinking on the beach was not working.
“What occurred here yesterday afternoon is something that should never be repeated on San Diego’s beaches,” Faulconer said.
At City Hall, Aguirre said his office will be drafting an ordinance to ban booze at the beaches. He noted that an 80 percent decrease in reported crimes and 41 percent drop in arrests were recorded at La Jolla Shores municipal beach once alcohol was banned there. He said the city’s response to Monday’s incident consumed too many city resources, including the work of 70 police officers and use of the police helicopter.
“We are now on notice that this problem is completely out of hand,” Aguirre said.