COMMUNITY COMMENTARY -- Kathleen Cooper

I just finished reading your editorial (“With a couple exceptions,

Fourth was safe and sane,” Sunday). As a resident held captive in the

midst of what I consider to be riot conditions, it was anything but safe

and sane.

If any other area, such as Lido Isle or Balboa Island, had to deal

with the problems we have, there would be immediate changes made. July 4

exacerbates an existing problem we have in West Newport.

Thousands of people engaged in the following: drinking and drunkenness

in public; disturbing the peace; public obscenity, littering, loitering,

fireworks, urinating in public, huge parties, hundreds of people walking

the streets with backpacks full of illegal fireworks, and hundreds of

nonresidents walking on and off the beach with alcohol.

This went on for two nights, on July 3 and 4. But it is not uncommon

in West Newport for any weekend during the summer or any holiday.

Perhaps we need to rethink what we perceive is a solution to these

problems. Residents were given a list of advice on how they should

behave: stay home; no guests or parties; and no fireworks.

Fences were put up blocking traffic. Balboa Boulevard was closed to

traffic. Residents, friends and family could not come or go. A large

block party was created for thousands of out of control nonresidents.

Your editorial stated, “There may have been times when some residents

in West Newport felt as though they were stuck in their homes, but at

least it was nothing more than that.”

If this is the case, I suggest the fences be moved elsewhere next year

and West Newport residents put up large signs with arrows for everyone

who wishes to partake in these innocuous festivities. Let’s direct them

to Lido Isle next year, Peninsula Point the next, Balboa Island, etc.

They can gain the same appreciation we have for this “very well-run

Fourth of July.” Everyone should share in the “35 tons of trash collected

within 24 hours.”

If other areas are not receptive to this idea, perhaps the Police

Department should dig out their old files and find out how they handled

Bal Week years ago. Residents and police worked together to end, rather

than encourage, that yearly invasion. There are some areas in Newport

where they actually enforce the no alcohol, no littering, no fireworks

and the curfew.

* Kathleen Cooper is a West Newport resident.