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-- Wendell Phillips
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Note: this was a newsletter sent out in response to a pro-alcohol-ban letter sent to PBTC members by Judith Bomberger
Commentary: Lies, Damn Lies, and Crime Statistics
Commentary: If you read Judith Bomberger's pro-ban argument, you'll notice some outlandish claims, such as ''crime dropped 80% in La Jolla'' when a ban was adopted. We found no evidence to support this assertion. On the contrary, La Jolla's crime rate is nearly identical to PB's (see below). In Del Mar for instance, crime actually increased 2% after their ban was enacted. We would assume more formerly law-abiding citizens are being cited for peaceful beer drinking.
Point by point:
- There is no data to support the claim that alcohol at the beach increases criminal behavior such as vandalism, assaults, disturbing the peace, DUIs, etc.
- La Jolla has banned alcohol and currently has nearly the same crime rate as PB. There is no evidence of any significant post-ban crime drop, if any at all.
- SDPD proactively verifies IDs on all city beaches. Their latest enforcement program includes a handheld device which shows a digital form of identification for anyone who does not bring ID to the beach.
- The PB violent crime rate (Jan-May 2006) is 5.19 per 1000 people. The citywide crime rate is nearly identical at 4.82 per 1000. Other areas are MUCH higher. See below for more on this.
- A cursory glance shows that the beach is, by any definition, uncrowded 90% of the time, with the exception of the Thomas -> PB Drive area and certain others on peak weekends. Throughout the year the beach is filled with small children and other citizens. There is not data to support the assertion that it is not ''enjoyed by all.''
- The argument against the pro-ban motion has nothing to do whatsoever with alcohol-related businesses.
- There is no data to suggest that public health/safety is at all affected whether alcohol is legal or not on the beaches. On the most crowded weekend (July 4th), the alcohol-related crime rate was 1003 incidents (80+% misdemeanors and infractions) out of 1.5 million visitors -- a crime rate of 0.07%! Hardly cause for alarm.
Here are some basic but interesting crime stats for the first half of 2006. Notice how PB is only very slightly more ''dangerous'' than La Jolla. Numbers are per-1000 residents:
Pacific Beach
Violent crime total = 5.19
Property crime total = 53.22
La Jolla
Violent crime total = 2.42
Property crime total = 52.48
Mission Valley West (for comparison)
Violent crime total = 21.83
Property crime total = 581.24
Good lord people, don't shop in Mission Valley! It's dangerous! In fact, don't leave your house, the world is dangerous.
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