Reclaiming Huntington on the Fourth

* Perhaps it is time for a new approach to solve Huntington Beach’s annual Fourth of July competition between the “city’s finest” and the Independence Day celebrators.

A reasonable man might conclude that after a killing, two stabbings and over 100 arrests, the present approach of adding a greater police presence and enlarging the demilitarized zone has not worked.

Several years ago the Orange County Probation Department did a study in which they determined that “most youths who have a first brush with the law never have a second. Only 8% come back repeatedly, a group that is responsible for about 50% of all activity in the juvenile criminal justice system.”

I suspect that about the same number of hooligans are responsible for the problems in Huntington Beach on the Fourth of July each year. The others are just there because it happens to offer the most exciting action in the area.

People of moderation must not be driven out, but they must be there to reclaim their streets. Let those of us who lined PCH to “save the Bolsa Chica” now line the streets of Huntington Beach to “save our city.”

Perhaps a more reasonable approach would be to let those who so successfully planned the day’s festivities enlist the aid of the city’s youth, and plan a night for the 92% of independence celebrators who truly want to mark this Day of Independence.

Do not plan for those who want to drink, burn and destroy.

Let the police plan for that 8%. Let the emphasis be on an evening of celebration of the independence of this great country by citizens of Huntington Beach descending en masse on the downtown area letting everyone know that we want our streets free and safe, and our shops and restaurants open to our celebration.

Next year let’s have a huge celebration of the “Independence of Huntington Beach.”

JOHN F. SCOTT

Huntington Beach