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Ordinance would ban liquor at parks
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More from Local NewsRio Lindo is a nice neighborhood park in north Oxnard, with trees old enough to picnic under and a grassy field for ball games. And that's just the trouble, some neighbors say.
On many weekends and holidays, the block-square park near Pacifica High School is overrun by hundreds of people, many from out of town. Beer by the keg and other alcoholic beverages are often part of the festivities.
"It's become an attractive nuisance," said Jerry Lucero, former chair of the Rio Lindo Neighborhood Council.
Lucero believes a new alcohol control ordinance will help put a damper on some of the crowding and rowdiness at the neighborhood park.
The issue is set to be discussed by the City Council at 7 tonight at City Hall, 305 W. Third St.
The ordinance would prohibit anyone from possessing an open receptacle containing alcohol at any city park.
The city's current ordinance prohibits drinking alcohol in parks, but it is difficult to enforce because a police officer must observe alcohol being consumed to establish a violation has been committed, Lori Rice, Oxnard's parks manager, said in a report to the City Council.
The new ordinance would create a civil fine for possession, starting at $100 for each violation.
"Weekends are impossible here," said Tomasa Moffitt, a Rio Lindo-area resident. "There are too many parties and too many Jolly Jumpers."
Families should not be going to parks with their children and drinking, Moffitt said.
She once found a little girl wandering by herself in the park and later discovered her mother had been drinking and lost track of her child.
"That's how terrible things happen," Moffitt said.
Lucero said he hopes increased alcohol enforcement will diminish crowding at the park.
It gets so bad that people sometimes park in his driveway or block it, he said. And when the lines at the park's small restrooms get too long, people knock at his door and ask to use his bathroom.
Lucero is urging the City Council to take other measures, such as reinstituting the permit parking system that existed in the neighborhood a few years ago to help cut down the crowds.
Josefina Melgoza and her husband, Alejandro, have lived near the park for 23 years and enjoy taking walks on the foot path around it. But they stopped going there on weekend afternoons after she got hit in the leg by a softball.
"It still hurt when I got home," she said.
"There are too many teams trying to play on too little field," Alejandro added.
Posted by live_for_purpose on May 13, 2008 at 5:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How about make it illegal to possess alcohol of any kind at the park, unless it happens to be locked up in the trunk of a car? No kegs, no 6-packs, no plastic cups of beer or any other type of alcohol. Go drink in your own backyard!!!!!!
Posted by patticakepatti on May 13, 2008 at 6:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The city's current ordinance prohibits drinking alcohol in parks, but it is difficult to enforce because a police officer must observe alcohol being consumed to establish a violation has been committed.
This is a direct quote from the story folks....alcohol has been and currently is illegal regardless of the new law. The question should be why wasn't this being enforced??? I don't care if you have to actually see them consume the alcohol, chances are, if someone has a beer in their hand it won't be long before they take a sip! Why was all the extra money needed to pass a law when there is already one in place??? Is the city of Oxnard not aware that there are money problems everywhere???
And last, but certainly not least, what the heck are people doing drinking at a young child's birthday party??? Children's birthday parties have gotten way out of hand, I remember the good old days when a birthday party was just that, a birthday party, no alcohol was needed.
Posted by danp on May 13, 2008 at 6:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is rediculous. Those crazy homies with their softball and jolly jumps. Come on people, apparently there are a few old people who can't take a little life being around them. Do like the rest of the people who hate the noise and traffic of people under the age of 40 and move to a retirement community. Maybe if there interviewee had mentioned fighting, a stabbing or gunfire I would be concerned, but a softball to the ankle? Not to mention it says that drinking is ALREADY illegal. This story should have never been printed, written or even thought of.
Posted by bigrvman on May 13, 2008 at 6:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How about building more parks,let start with the eye sore called the carriage square area there are to many laws already, how do you ban someone from drinking something that the law has made legal maybe Oxnard would not have this problem if they allowed more AMERICAN nightclubs to stay open in there fair city.Let's face it people socialize people drink when they have parties or get together with loved ones.I have been to many parks where police officers and city council members drink when celebrating with their family.The salsa festival is coming this summer they have a beer garden at the plaza park I'm pretty sure that will be banned too.
Posted by try_mee_76 on May 13, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bunch of winers I think...the park is a public place open to the public. Would you rather the people/players who are there on the weekends be out committing crime?? NO I don't think so. I do agree that they should not be drinking there, when that is observed they should call the police dept. So what was there first the park of the people that moved in to the neighborhood??? I'm going to guess Park.
Posted by Camdad101 on May 13, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They need to outlaw something else in Oxnard to reduce crime.
Posted by yani_chingas on May 13, 2008 at 5:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
patticakepatti, is it just me or did I miss ANY mention of a birthday party? Just curious.
So is the rowdiness the children in the jolly jumpers or the teams playing softball on too small an area?
I personally don't use the parks, I prefer to drink and BBQ in my own backyard...
Just another red herring courtesy of the City Council, save for Flynn, he's the only one looking out for the citizens. The rest have their own agenda.
Posted by keepin_it_real on May 13, 2008 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
patticake==Thank you!!! As i was reading this article and the posts I was thinking, isn't it already against the law to drink at parks? I thought so.
yani_chingas==I think what patticake means is there are alot of birthday parties at parks as well and I do know that those chidrens parties end up being grown up parties with the drinking and games and so on.
I definately agree, instead of spending money making new laws, just enforce the ones we have. If you are going to drink and party, stay at home or rent a hall and party among yourself. Don't bother your neighbors.
Parks are for family and friends gatherings and picnics and barbeques. OPD just needs to find a way to monitor them.
Posted by davidgoxnard on May 13, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
why is it anyones buisness on how you throw parties...you dont pay for them...and drinking at parks is already illegal...i just think you guys just took the opportunity to blame this on the "homies" meaning "mexicans"....wow, it's funny the, century we are in and racecism is still around...
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