Let’s Toast to Banning Booze

During District 2 councilmember Kevin Faulconer’s state of the district speech on April 27, he listed his accomplishments during the past three years.

One of his proudest accomplishments so far has been banning alcohol from San Diego’s beaches.

“Alcohol is prohibited along the coast of most Southern California communities, meaning San Diego’s beaches had become a magnet for troublemakers. I couldn’t fight for Mission Bay without addressing the problems alcohol was creating at our beaches and bays. This wasn’t an easy decision for me. But I knew what the right choice was.”

Though the issue was hotly contested (the proposition passed with only a 5 percent margin last November), Faulconer claims the benefits of dry beaches aren’t debatable.

He says that since the ban took effect, alcohol-related incidents have been reduced by 20 percent, calls to the police from beach communities have dropped to a five-year low, emergency response time is faster citywide because of less-alcohol related calls, and fewer taxpayer dollars have been shelled out for policing the beaches during holiday weekends.

“It was important to see what the effects would be,” said Faulconer on Monday evening. “The effects were positive and dramatic. Our beaches and bays are safer, cleaner, and more family-friendly.... Lifeguards are saving children from rip currents, not breaking up fights.”

Among Faulconer’s other accomplishments: using the revenues earned from Mission Bay Park for capital improvements at the park instead of going into the city’s general fund, and backing the passage of Prop C, a financial reform that took away auditing duties from the mayor and invited more public input on the City’s Audit Committee, which Faulconer heads.

For more on Faulconer’s speech, go to sandiego.gov/citycouncil/cd2/