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April 17, 2002, 12:17AM
Galveston ready for huge crowds to party on Isle
By KEVIN MORAN
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
GALVESTON -- This island city's East Beach is expected to be packed, beginning Friday, with thousands of college students and others who swarm to Galveston each April for Beach Party Weekend.
NOTE: THERE ARE VERY FEW COLLEGE STUDENTS
And if the pattern from past years holds true, thousands more will keep Seawall Boulevard almost solid with cars as they cruise the beachfront.
VERY FEW ARE ON THE BEACH. THIS COULD JUST AS WELL TAKE PLACE ON A CONCRETE RACE TRACK.
Authorities say the influx could total as many as a quarter-million people -- but Galveston will be ready.
GALVESTON HAS A THREE DAY WATER STORAGE AND RUNS TO A ONE DAY SUPPLY ON HEAVY WEEKENDS - WE WILL BE PAYING FOR EXTRA WATER TO BE STORED STARTING TOMMOROW. "We're looking for as smooth and orderly an event as we've ever had," Police Chief Bob Pierce said Tuesday. "We want people to arrive on the island, enjoy their visit and get home safely."
Unlike the past two years, drivers will not be charged to cruise the seawall this weekend. Instead of trying to recoup the estimated $375,000 it will take to manage, police and clean up after the event by letting a promoter provide entertainment and charge drivers to get on the seawall, the city is using tax dollars.
JUST READ THIS PARAGRAPH AGAIN. IT SAYS IT ALL.
"They can cruise for free this year," said city special events coordinator Paula Ozymy. "But there will be no vendors on the seawall other than established businesses that want to set up in their parking lots and sell outside what they usually sell inside."
SO MUCH FOR CITIZENS WANTING TO MAKE A LITTLE MONEY OUT OF THE "TOURISTS"
City officials and Houston-based promoters who have organized the entertainment are hoping thousands of people will pay $20 per car on Friday and $30 per car on Saturday and Sunday to park at East Beach, where the attractions will include continuous music; basketball, domino and other tournaments; and bikini and hard-body contests.
THIS IS JUST SO MUCH "BARBARA STRIESAND"! THESE PROMOTERS ARE ALL A BUNCH OF CON ARTISTS.
The huge party began in the early 1980s as an informal gathering of a few hundred fraternity members and alumni from black colleges in the region. It has grown rapidly in recent years.
THIS IS TRUE AND IT WAS JUST FINE AND NOBODY HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT. IT WAS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER BIG WEEKEND.
Local officials have issued pleas this week for Beach Party revelers to get to Galveston as early as possible in hopes of avoiding the lines of afternoon traffic that can back up, three lanes wide, across the Interstate 45 causeway and several miles toward Houston.
TOO BAD IF AN AMBULANCE IS COMING FROM THE MAINLAND INTO UTMB - THE STATE'S INDIGENT CARE HOSPITAL AND SHRINE BURNS UNIT.
Nobody knows how many people to expect Saturday, but Pierce said as many as 250,000 have attended Beach Party Weekend on Saturdays in years past.
WE ARE A NORMAL POPULATION OF 60k WITH BIG WEEKENDS AND FESTIVALS OF 150k.
Still, he said, he expects the city to cope well with the crowds.
Along with more than 100 Galveston police, the city has hired 300 officers from other agencies to help out. They'll be backed up by about 100 state troopers.
YEAH, BY PAYING FOR 3-5 HUNDRED EXTRA COPS. THE CITY ALSO HAS TO PAY FOR THEIR HOTEL AND FOOD BILLS.
A city ordinance banning alcohol consumption on the seawall will be strictly enforced, Pierce said, along with bans on glass containers on the seawall and beaches.
"We will arrest people for public intoxication, lewdness and disorderly conduct," he added.
SPEAKS FOR ITSELF - ONLY THE THING IS - THE HUNDREDS OF COPS ARE BASICALLY JUST TRYING TO KEEP THE TRAFFIC MOVING AND CHASING THE MUGS WHO SHOOT GUNS FROM THEIR CARS.
Just as police clear the downtown Strand area late at night during Mardi Gras, they will sweep the seawall clear of partiers at 1 a.m. Sunday, Pierce said. If crowds and traffic warrant it, he said, police will clear the seawall at 1 a.m. Saturday, too.
The traffic plan used in recent years is to go into effect early Saturday, he said, but could be used Friday night if traffic gets heavy.
While the city has planned carefully for the party, City Manager Steve LeBlanc said it presents serious logistical problems for residents, employers and public safety officials.
NUMEROUS LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS FOR...SUCH AS GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE AND THE PHARMACY. TOO BAD IF YOUR CHILD HAS AN EAR INFECTION FOR TWO DAYS.
"I've got citizens on the island who are concerned about, for example, getting to their dialysis treatments through the traffic," LeBlanc said. "We're a small community that's handling a party that's too large for us."
MUCH LESS YOUR DIALYSIS TREATMENTS OR GOING TO CHURCH.
Of particular concern is the ability of about 2,000 people to depart the Port of Galveston aboard the cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas at 5 p.m. Sunday.
NOW WE ARE GETTING TO WHERE IT REALLY HURTS. THERE ARE FEW IF ANY FAMILY OR HIGH DOLLAR TOURISTS ON THE ISLAND. IF THEY HAVE EVER GOTTEN CAUGHT HERE ON BEACH PARTY WEEKEND THEY SWEAR THEY WILL NEVER RETURN AND TELL ALL THEIR FRIENDS ABOUT IT TOO.
"We want them to realize that they may face very heavy traffic," LeBlanc said. Passengers should exit I-45 at Harborside Drive and turn left onto Harborside toward the port and cruise ship terminal, he said.
BASICALLY IT IS JUST BEST NOT TO COME TO THE ISLAND OR STAY HOME ALL WEEKEND.
Port spokeswoman Judy Slocum said the port has warned Royal Caribbean Cruises to inform passengers of potential traffic problems and has posted information on the port's Web site, www.portofgalveston.com.
YEAH RIGHT! TWO THOUSAND PASSENGERS ARE GOING TO TOTALLY FREAK OUT.
University of Texas Medical Branch employees who live off the island were advised to plan so they can get to work on time at the large medical center on the island's east end.
TWO DAYS AGO THERE WAS A THREE ALARM FIRE ON TOP OF THE PRISON HOSTPITAL. FIREFIGHTERS WERE GREAT, NO ONE WAS BADLY HURT. WHAT IF IT HAD HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND? THE ONLY WAY EMERGENCY PERSONNEL CAN GET AROUND IS ON ABOUT THREE STREETS MANNED BY TRAFFIC POLICE. TO GET INTO THE BEACH RIOT AREAS WHERE WOMEN ARE BEING ASSAULTED, THEY HAVE TO USE HELICOPTERS.
In years past, some seawall restaurants and other businesses have closed after being overwhelmed by Beach Party crowds and losing money when people left without paying food bills. Others have closed because Beach Party visitors didn't patronize their dining rooms or because employees couldn't get to work.
GAIDO'S IS ONE OF THE TEXAS COAST'S BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS -LINES OUT THE DOOR KIND OF PLACE. LAST YEAR THEY SET A NEW RECORD - ZERO - PATRONS. THEY STAYED OPEN BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER HAD ISSUED A STATEMENT TELLING MERCHANTS THAT IF THEY CLOSED, THEY MIGHT BE SUBJECT TO DISCRIMINATION LAWSUITS.
"One time we were open and we just didn't get much business," said Raul Lopez, manager of Nate's Steakhouse at 13th Street and Seawall. "We closed early, and ever since then we never opened again (during Beach Party)."
SEE ABOVE
Peggy Sharretts, co-owner of the Ocean Grill Restaurant and Bar at 23rd Street and Seawall, said the business will close Friday evening and reopen Monday morning.
"The traffic is just incredibly difficult to move around," she said. "We just do not do any business, and that has been true every year."
Pierce said hotel guests and pedestrians can use shuttles that will run along the seawall Saturday and Sunday.
Shuttles will take people to the beachfront from lots at 47th Street and Broadway and near 6th Street and Broadway. The East Beach parking area will accommodate about 7,000 vehicles, and Stewart Beach will accommodate about 2,500.
250K DIVIDED BY ABOUT 4 OCCUPANTS = 62,500 VEHICLES. WOW, AND THERE IS PARKING FOR 9K. THE REMAINDER CRUISE IN CIRCLES EMITTING SMOG AND WINDOW RATTLING RAP/HATE MUSIC.
East Beach events will run from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, a Powerplay Productions spokeswoman said.
Food and souvenir vendors also will be there.
People heading for East Beach also can park at Stewart Beach, at 6th Street and Seawall, for $20 on Friday and $30 on Saturday and Sunday and take shuttles to East Beach.
Another option is to ride the shuttles for $4 per person and pay $5 to enter the Beach Party area.
Dallas-based Out-the-Box Entertainment has lined up musical entertainment and scheduled other activities at three private beachfront locations: the former Voodoo Daddy's club, Club D'Elegance and the Victorian Condominium Hotel. Tickets that will allow holders to attend events at those locations all weekend are available for $35 through Ticketmaster outlets. One-day tickets are $15 at the door.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO HOST THIS IN YOUR TOWN?