ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Beach Patrol

In the aftermath of this week’s Fourth of July disturbances, Huntington Beach police were putting the best spin they could on the city’s continuing efforts to curb unruly holiday behavior.

The police had worked with neighborhood and downtown groups over the past year in an effort to address the conditions that led to a near-riot on July 4, 1993. With nearly double the expenditure for officer overtime this year, they reported an increase in arrests even though they said this year’s unruliness was less serious than last year’s.

However, while gradual progress toward orderly Fourths is a fond hope and maybe even a realistic expectation, the larger community in Huntington Beach still must decide what kind of holiday the city ultimately wants to have.

How much disruption is enough?

Given the large numbers attracted by the waterfront and a parade--and hours of celebration before nightfall--it’s easy for the few to ruin things for the many after the official celebrations are over. Some of that happened Monday night despite the community efforts of the past year.

The city began recently to enforce more strictly a 10 p.m. curfew for youths. Should it expand the curfew? Are there ways to further improve communication so that potentially troublesome situations are headed off before they develop?

Huntington Beach has made gains, but it isn’t quite there yet and has more work to do. In the year ahead, it must continue exploring these questions.