Posted on 06/11/2003 6:35:32 AM PDT by freebilly
Action another response to suspected gang-related killing at Sunrise Park
Rohnert Park will ban alcohol in city parks as part of its campaign to fight gang violence, the City Council decided Tuesday.
The prohibition, which will take effect in 30 days, was approved on a 4-1 vote. Only Councilwoman Amie Spradlin opposed the measure.
"I urge that we don't unfairly punish those that wish to enjoy an alcoholic beverage with their friends, with their families," she said before the vote.
Spradlin said most of the problems associated with public drunkenness are caused by minors who already are breaking the law.
Rohnert Park's decision comes three weeks after a killing in one of its local parks that was blamed on gang activity, and a year after Sebastopol banned alcohol in its parks in response to complaints about vandalism, noise and violence.
For years, alcoholic beverages have been allowed in Rohnert Park's parks between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., provided they weren't in glass containers.
The council's decision to ban alcohol was the latest response to the shooting of Roeun Klaot, 18, of Santa Rosa, who was killed May 25 when his basketball game at Sunrise Park was disrupted by gunfire.
Days after the shooting, the city removed the hoops from the basketball courts at the park. Officials, who promised to restore the hoops in 30 days, said they hoped the temporary measure would discourage gang members from congregating at the courts.
"We thought, as a strategy, by taking the hoops down, it would break that pattern," City Manager Carl Leivo said.
The idea originated with nearby residents who held a private meeting with City Councilman Greg Nordin and Police Chief Tom Bullard to explore ways to make the park safer.
Nearby residents also suggested the ban on alcohol in city parks.
Many people who use the park were unhappy about the removal of the basketball hoops, but there wasn't any public opposition at Tuesday's meeting to the ban on alcohol.
Several other measures have been implemented since the shooting. The city has trimmed trees and bushes to increase visibility and promised to step up police surveillance.
On Tuesday, Bullard told the council that a grant to fight underage drinking would pay for extra bike patrols at parks.
At Councilwoman Vicki Vidak-Martinez's behest, the city also is considering hiring a private security service to patrol city parks.
"I see this not as a recreation problem, but as a public safety problem," she said.
Last week, a 15-year-old Santa Rosa boy, whose name wasn't release because of his age, was arrested and charged with Klaot's murder. Rohnert Park police are still looking for three other suspects, ages 16 to 20, in the shooting.
More brilliance from RP's city council. A teen gangbanger shoots someone in a park so the response is to take away the basketball hoops, ban alcohol?
Why not just ban people from wearing those ubiquitous gang colors-- red or blue?
Well, at least the shooting got Rohnert Park to trim the trees and bushes in the park. Maybe if there's another shooting they might start watering the park grass more regularly....
RP is also the actual home of Sonoma State (which used to be locally known as Cotati Tech or Penngrove Poly). I remember when the campus was in downtown Rhonert Park, in a failed shopping center: the library was a former supermarket. (That was the academic highpoint of its existence.)
In any event, only silliness can be expected there.....
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