Police say the beach alcohol ban is making the beaches safer and cleaner. Now some residents are saying it’s time for the smoke shops to go.
At its Feb. 12 meeting at the Earl & Birdie Taylor Library, the Pacific Beach Town Council (PBTC) also discussed how the Beach Area Community Court (BACC) is helping to reduce crime.
Incoming Northern Division Capt. Shelly Zimmerman of the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said that feedback to the recently implemented beach alcohol ban has been positive.
Sgt. Darrell Esparza of the San Diego Lifeguard Service also said he has noticed “an immediate, positive result.”
Town council members agreed that the ban is improving the quality of life in the beach communities.
“The beach had become the place to drink,” PBTC Director Joe Wilding said.
“The beaches are cleaner,” said treasurer Mike Stevens.
“The test will be in the summer,” PBTC Vice President Rose Galliher said.
Other town council members said they can walk the boardwalk without being accosted by the homeless population that regularly loiter there.
“The regulars aren’t so regular anymore,” Zimmerman said.
SDPD Officer Alan Alvarez said approximately 11 tickets have been written for alcohol-related offenses since the ban took effect.
Though the majority of tickets were written in the 92109 zip code, Zimmerman said the amount of citations is so small that the number is not statistically significant.
“We don’t have the resources to go up to everyone with a red cup,” Zimmerman said. “The point is to enforce [penalties for] rowdy behavior.”
Zimmerman plans to maintain current staffing levels at the beach.
Educating the public is critical, Alvarez said. Tourists especially will need to be made aware of the new rules, he said.
Education is also essential to the success of the Beach Area Community Court. The program allows persons who receive a citation for glass on the beach, public urination and other misdemeanor offenses to participate in BACC rather than the traditional court.
Offenders who opt for community court listen to a two-hour educational presentation featuring a panel of community members who share how public drunkenness and other crimes affect their quality of life. Community panelists have included police officers, residents and nurses who share how excessive alcohol use can endanger health and damage lives.
Community court participants also perform three hours of community service in the area where they received their citation. Past projects have included picking up trash, clearing Rose Creek of transients’ encampments and painting rules and regulations on trash cans. The BACC has contributed $10,620 in labor and 1,416 hours of service to the beach communities in the past year.
Deputy City Attorney Teresa Fout said that after completing the community court program, one participant said, “It made me realize that this is more than just a beach but a neighborhood.” Another participant said, “I always heard about this stuff on TV, but hearing it from people that live here made much more sense.”
“It’s a dialogue that goes back and forth,” Fout said. “It breaks down a lot of barriers.”
It also has a tremendous impact on recidivism. From May 2006 to September 2007, 50 people who went through traditional court reoffended ” compared to 4 BACC participants.
The BACC is seeking volunteers to serve as community panelists and community service supervisors. To get involved, call (858) 273-3303.
It will take citizen involvement to drive the city’s smoke shops out of business, said Lisa Silverman of the North City Prevention Coalition and Social Advocates for Youth (SAY).
Despite a cease and desist order from City Attorney Mike Aguirre instructing smoke shops to remove all drug paraphernalia from their stores, items associated with marijuana are still on the shelves, Silverman said.
Because the city included pictures of the very small pipes used to smoke methamphetamine in the literature they sent, shop owners removed those pipes but still sell bongs and other items used to smoke marijuana, Silveman said.
Pacific Beach has the highest concentration of smoke shops in San Diego. Teens in other parts of the city know they can purchase drug paraphernalia in Pacific Beach, said Silverman.
She urged concerned residents to contact their council representative and demand action. To contact Silverman, call (858) 414-3161.
The PBTC will hold its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, at the Taylor Library, 4275 Cass St.