Please be advised that 28,000 of us live in the 92107 (Ocean Beach) area. Of these 28,000, a mere few hundred have paid the “fee” required to be a “member” of the Ocean Beach Town Council. Yet, this group feels compelled to submit a letter to the Beacon (“OB Town Council opposes beach alcohol ban,” Dec. 27 edition, page 6) which suggests that Ocean Beach, as a community, opposes the beach alcohol ban.
Such an assertion is reckless and lacks foundation. It is telling that in its letter, the purported Ocean Beach Town Council states that in its determination that our community opposes an alcohol ban, such decision was based on an “informal poll” of its spartan membership. This reader would like to know exactly what an “informal poll” is and who determines its guidelines.
Whatever the case may be, it is important that our friends across the Mission Bay channel do not become confused by silly proclamations born of the mighty dozen who make up the OB Town Council. Rest assured that this body has a long history, none of which includes competency, civility or a coherent thought, for that matter. Rather, this is a boorish group of haters which feels compelled to force its opinions on our community. Whatever the case, rest assured that they do not speak for the community of Ocean Beach. And please, do not take my word for it. Take a random telephone poll of 92107. Better yet, hire a few folks to knock on doors. I can assure you with complete confidence that your factual findings will ring nothing like the headlines the Town Council seems compelled to bellow.
Please recall the last time we had the big alcohol ban vote (Proposition G). Recall that it was defeated by a mere 2,900 votes. Indeed, there are 47,000 folks who call OB and Point Loma home.
Imagine how many of us voted against the ban (myself included) simply because we did not appreciate our exclusion from the ban ” which was based on the drafters’ belief that the OB Town Council actually spoke for this community ” the quintessential fatal error.
Finally, to the folks on the Town Council, why don’t you go and hold another protest in front of Starbucks? Yeah, the Starbucks that was going to fail (uhh, seven years ago) because “Ocean Beach” didn’t want it. Or maybe the Wings? Didn’t we, as a “community,” oppose them as well? While you will never have the luxury of credibility, why not do yourselves a favor and engage in a little self-evaluation regarding honesty. Specifically, try being honest about the fact that you prefer crime, you prefer graffiti, you desperately wish OB wasn’t family friendly, you welcome transients and their entourage of drugs, theft and illegal behavior, you love when folks live in their cars and urinate on the streets. Why? Because you think that these things will enjoin your landlord from raising the rent on the dilapidated studio apartment that you share with three others.
Whatever the case may be, many of us who have been here for more than a week, and more importantly, will be here next week, next year and next decade, would prefer that you refrain from commenting upon what we want.