Quality of Life Issues Top Priority — Bar None

Residents in the West End demanded that law enforcement officials get a better handle on some of the alcohol-related problems that have long plagued their neighborhood.

“We are under siege in our homes because of the bars,” said Patricia Blessinger, a Georgia Avenue resident.

Blessinger complained about the problems particularly wrought by Irish Day, which is held in October, Cinco de Mayo and Octoberfest. During these events, she said, the activity around some of the bars is out of control.

She and other fed-up residents brought their gripes to the June 5 City Council meeting, during the Good and Welfare session.

Judy Rudnick, a Georgia Avenue resident, said that when one of the local bars plays loud music, the china in her cabinet shakes. In addition, beer bottles often litter the Georgia Avenue playground, she said. She noted that her neighbor has taken video of some of the drunken shenanigans that have taken place on their street.

Mary Ellen Pollina, who has lived on Delaware Avenue for four years, said she has only experienced three incidents during that time, including a drunk passed out at her front door, a woman urinating in her backyard and the mirrors on her car smashed. But Pollina said she sympathizes with the West End residents who constantly live through it.

“These people are dealing with serious noise, fighting and vandalism every weekend,” said Pollina, who co-chairs the West End Beautification Committee with Rudnick. “It has to be controlled and managed. And over time it will bring us to the point where it loses that craziness reputation that we have suffered with over the years. I don’t want that part of it to overpower the beauty of the community.”

Richard Papetti of Wisconsin Street called the revelers on Irish Day “the single biggest problem,” particularly those partying in the outdoor areas of neighborhood bars.

Pollina said neighbors want a greater police presence, especially during the summer weekends.

“We hope to see more police patrols,” she added. “I’ve never seen a police officer walking on Beech Street.”

Pollina urged city officials to “truly listen to the residents of the West End.”

Police officials recently met with about 25 West End residents and business owners who shared their frustration, anger and horror stories about drunken behavior and associated noise on their streets.

Some suggestions by residents included closing the bars earlier, moving Irish Day to the East End and suspending the festivities this year in light of the fiscal crisis and layoffs and then re-evaluating it for 2013.

“That might be an idea to give the city time to meet with the Ancient Order of Hibernians to see what can be done to make it more manageable,” Pollina said of the organization that holds the day's parade.

“We’re not talking about people shooting each other, but these are quality of life issues for residents,” Pollina added.

Police said whether Irish Day will be held is up to city officials.

“If the city decides to hold it, we’ll police it,” said Sgt. Eric Cregeen, a Long Beach Police Department spokesman. “Pretty much, when Irish Day is held, it’s all hands on deck. The whole department is out there, with cops on bikes and officers on the beach.”

Cregeen said police response time to such incidents has been superb, and that police continue to be on top of the bar scene, trying to maintain a high quality of life for West End residents.

During the weekends, extra police patrols and supervisors are deployed to curtail any drunken behavior outside of bars, he said.

“We’re out there to prevent anything from happening,” he said. “We know the West End of Long Beach is one of the hot spots for that type of activity.”

Community police officers continue to take part in “park, walk and talk,” where they will park their patrol cars, and walk up and down the streets talking with residents and business owners.

In addition, police frequently conduct bar checks, making sure patrons are behaving themselves and checking liquor licenses.

In addition, officers often team up with the Department of Motor Vehicles to check driver’s licenses to curb the number of underage drinkers. Police often act as guest doormen at bars to make sure no one enters with a fake or altered license, said Cregeen.