Partyers plan protest at council

June Casagrande

The strength of the pro-drinking, pro-partying political contingent

is that there’s never a shortage of people who want the government to

keep its hands off their efforts to have a good time. But their

weakness is that sometimes having a good time today is a higher

priority than fighting for the right to have fun tomorrow.

Tonight’s City Council meeting will be a case in point as members

of FreeNewport.com rally supporters to come out to the meeting right

in the middle of a Laker game.

“It’s going to be a challenge, considering the Laker game,” said

Brian Clarkson, spokesman for the group that’s fighting city

restrictions on West Newport Fourth of July parties. “We hope they

get off the couch, take a few minutes during the game, and turn out

at the meeting.”

Turnout or no turnout, Clarkson said he would submit to the city

clerk’s office before tonight’s meeting about 1,000 signatures opposing two council motions to crack down on drunken mayhem in West

Newport on the Fourth of July.

The council will consider adopting an ordinance to establish a

“safety enhancement zone” in West Newport -- a slight variation on

the city’s annual practice of increasing fines, adding a police

presence and tightening laws in West Newport Beach.

The zone refers to the area within the Pacific Ocean on the south,

32nd Street and Newport Boulevard on the east, Pacific Coast Highway

on the north and 54th Street on the west.

From 12:01 a.m. on July 4 until 3 a.m. on July 5,

tougher-than-normal laws exist in this zone. Fines are stiffer,

deliveries of liquor shipments are not allowed, and it increases “the

responsibilities of the owners of short-term lodgings and require(s)

immediate termination of certain activities upon request of a peace

officer.”

Clarkson takes issue with the council’s emphasis on activities on

private property, noting that most of the out-of-town troublemakers

are the heavy-drinking revelers walking the street. But city

officials believe the move is warranted.

“Many of the serious altercations have resulted from the

interaction between partygoers on private property and persons on the

street, and officers need an effective way to maintain control of

persons on both public and private property,” City Attorney Bob

Burnham wrote in staff report.

The second Fourth of July-related action will be the first reading

of a proposed ordinance to forbid stores from using their parking

lots to store and sell liquor -- a practice that has allowed a lot of

retailers to do more business.

If the council passes the ordinances -- which seems likely --

Clarkson and company have vowed on their Web site to fight to take

them down in the next City Council election.

Mayor Steve Bromberg said that the group’s objection hasn’t

changed his mind about supporting strict rules for the area on

Independence Day.

“We are absolutely committed to protecting person and property in

West Newport and on the [Balboa Peninsula] on the Fourth of July,”

Bromberg said. “I think what we’re doing is appropriate and

responsible under the circumstances.”

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.