Julie Klein known as the "team mom" for the Point Loma High School Surfing Team watches over the team as they surf on Tuesday and Thursdays. Klein complains that the excessive amount of alcoholic consumption at the end of Newport on the sea wall is causing some problems for families and groups like theirs. As they try to enjoy the beach they are being harassed by the drunks that hang out around the only stairway leading to the beach. Klein's surfers have even complained they have been punched by combative drunks.
Klein has collected 500 signatures supporting an alcohol-free zone between the pier and Saratoga Park. The proposed ban would be lifted on major holidays such as Fourth of July when beach alcohol consumption is at a high point. Klein's efforts have re-sparked the debate that has been raging in San Diego for the last few years and covered in SurfSD.com's article
PB votes to ban alcohol on all city beaches... MB is next! In 2002 votes narrowly defeated a San Diego county ban on alcoholic beverages on the beaches
Opponents of the ban have already started to voice their opposition and the SignOnSanDiego article
Alcohol-free beach zone proposed continues
Opponents of a ban say Klein's idea is a bad one because it would create a segregated Ocean Beach, which is already a small stretch of sand by San Diego standards.
"As the population grows, beaches will become more crowded," said Jeremy Malecha, president of Free PB, which opposes more restrictions at parks and beaches.
"It's counter to the spirit of openness that San Diego beaches represent," said Malecha, who also sits on the alcohol task force. "Where do you draw the line? I know plenty of adults who are turned off by kids screaming and throwing sand. Are we going to create an adults-only beach?"
Kevin Faulconer's task force expects to discuss the idea at his next public meeting on Monday. "My goal is to look at whether there is consensus and common ground that we can find," he stated. In the past Kevin has been openly anti-ban.
