Beach Booze Ban

I am writing to protest the recommendation by the San Diego City Council Public Facilities and Recreation Committee to ban alcoholic beverages at the beach (“Panel Votes to Ban Alcohol at Parks, Beaches,” Dec. 14). This looks like another overreaction by the City Council to a problem which does exist but can be curtailed by other, less drastic methods.

The laws of this state and community provide plenty of legal methods to curtail the actions of a small minority of the alcohol consuming public. Perhaps the enforcement of such violations would be a little more effective if our police would patrol on foot or bicycle rather than bright red off-road vehicles operating where other such vehicles are prohibited.

The fact that the proponent of the ordinance, Deputy City Manager Coleman Conrad, recommended public hearings that were rejected seems to indicate special interest groups have managed to pressure the committee to pass the ordinance without proper public approval. Many in the beach community fail to realize that the beach is for the enjoyment of all, and, like it or not, we are the hosts to the non-residents who come to visit. The people protesting are the ones that will be able to sit on their decks consuming alcohol while others cannot.

Banning alcohol to the detriment of the majority is not the way to solve this problem. Increased vigilance by the community and our law enforcement is the correct procedure to allow the beach to be enjoyed by all.

ARNE LILLEHAMER

San Diego