As you may know, I have previously written you regarding my desire to be of assistance in creating a remedy to the current controversy regarding the use of alcohol on public beaches and to publicly support you should you propose a practical solution that addresses the concerns of both your constituency as well as patrons of the Mission Beach and Pacific Beach recreation areas.

The events that unfolded on Labor Day 2007 were both unfortunate and, as I am sure we mutually agree, avoidable.

I think we can also mutually agree that it is important to respond to the situation rather than to react. While we may, as humans, have proclivities toward strong and emotional reactions to a negative situation, as evidenced by the events that transpired this previous Monday, those reactions are not in the best interest of the public and the last thing that will help the situation is their bureaucratic equivalent. It is important that we ask ourselves: What do we truly seek? The answer is not a BAN on alcohol, but a safe environment. Responsible use of alcohol will never contribute to an unsafe environment, and years of San Diego beach culture proves that to be the case. Most incidences are instigated by intoxicated individuals leaving bars – not from drinking on the beach. The pragmatist in me finds that both the evidence provides and the community desires that a set of resolutions is passed that perhaps declares alcohol to be prohibited on major beach holidays and those events on the beach which draw in the majority of individuals shown to cause the problems in question.

I am of the impression that many individuals in the community, particularly the younger generation, feel that the entity of Coincilman Faulconer is not concerned with the wishes of all area residents and has focused instead on a stalwart plan to implement an overzealous agenda of beach-front prohibition. I hope the Councilman considers that the community belongs to all its residents and frequenters, not just those which are most conservative in their leisure. If both sides of this discussion could maintain an open mind and a modicum of respect, attitudinally, we might actually be able come to the threshold of a real solution rather than an unfair and all encompassing ban. I believe that you do deeply care about the area you represent and I am confident that any laws passed will be in the spirit of community.

Let us not forget a famous promise from an important document that guarantees us the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," and remember that for many Pacific Beach locals and San Diego residents, happiness is a Saturday afternoon with a nice cold beer, a bbq and friends on the beach, a San Diego tradition for years.

Very truly yours,

-D. Whitman