Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008 | Rebuttal to Booze Ban: Sloppy Legislation by Ed Martin
In Ed Martin’s rebuttal, he admits that the beaches are more pleasant with the alcohol ban in place. That may be the only thing that makes sense in this letter to the editor.
I would only guess that Ed Martin hasn’t been in Pacific Beach for longer than ten years, and I don’t need to be psychic to guess his age.
Proposition D will be voted in by all of the people who have visited the beaches and bays and felt unsafe. Or, they were there during last year’s Labor Day brawl and have had enough. Or, they have not visited in years, because it has become a circus performed by those ages 21-35 (as well as the minors) who have figured out this is the “free” place to drink uncontrollably.
I grew up in Pacific Beach and I am embarrassed by what it has become. I grow tired of the excuses that we already have laws to enforce. That argument only works well in an area that has the right combination of enforcement. These beach areas will never have enough of that.
The statistics are already in. The lifeguards, police, emergency personnel, fire all can do their job easier with alcohol removed from the beaches. And it will save money for the city!
Other vacation destinations such as Hawaii and Florida have enacted the same legislation with less than a whimper of opposition. If this proposition does not pass, the next Labor Day incident will be more tragic. Eventually this will be the future. Why not now before a disaster? We already have created a reputation as the place to come and drink, based on how the media advertises our town. How can that be enforced?
Sloppy legislation? Yet another spin for the unintelligent. There are no other solutions, or other beach areas would not have arrived at this one – no alcohol allowed on their beaches.
Just as smoking is not allowed on our beaches, this is another way to keep our beaches cleaner and safer for everybody — even with the circus in town.
Vote yes on Proposition D — keep our beaches clean and safe for all!