Dear Hermosa Beach Councilmembers of 1998,

I have viewed and recorded your words and actions for close to seven years, agreeing with most, disagreeing with some and strongly disagreeing with a few. I consider this a very normal ratio as I don't think any two people can agree all of the time.

I have believed that your actions usually reflected your acceptance of the adult "parental" role of governing as "the City Fathers (and Mothers)" and your acceptance of the fact that one of the hardest tasks a parent must do is to say "NO" to a child, or as a councilmember to say "NO" to a friend, constituent. or colleague.

For this reason I beg you not to abandon your responsibility to the city and to its citizens by legalizing alcohol consumption on our beach for the sake of a colleague's "special event". Please, remember your own words at the last meeting in denying dog owner's access for their pets on the beach, "Unfortunately Hermosa Beach is too small to be the only city allowing dogs (alcohol?) on the beach...we could become a magnet for people throughout the county to bring their dogs (parties?) to our beach...we do not have the manpower to clean-up after irresponsible dog owners (party-goers?) or to administer or enforce obedience to any policies that might be adopted."

Attempting to limit permits to residents only is questionable as:

1. we were told it could not be done for dog owners;

2. any party-minded young person (and how many are not?) can go in with a number of roommates to rent an apartment and become a resident; and,

3. most people in our neighboring cities and a large portion of Los Angeles County know a resident of Hermosa Beach to ask for a permit.

There are many other arguments that can be made for not allowing alcohol on the beach such as potential city (personal?) liability, potential property damage, potential discrimination, tradition, unenforcability, abuse of political power and on and on. There is only one argument to be made to allow alcohol, "I don't want to be a grown-up, I want to have fun."

Please, reconsider and put the City of Hermosa Beach and its citizens first. Please, do not adopt this ordinance.

Sincerely,

Naoma Valdes

2840 Amby Place

Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

(310) 372-9325

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