West Newport residents prep for busy 4th

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT BEACH -- West Newport resident Margie Dorney shuddered as she

recalled wild partyers throwing fireworks from rooftops last Fourth of

July.

The image of a woman pushing a stroller with babies on 38th Street

dodging the firecrackers left Dorney with a feeling of horror.

So she became chairman of the special task force of area residents

that has been planning for months now to make the holiday a safe one for

the city, especially for West Newport, where beachfront rentals are

veritable Fourth of July party havens.

The West Newport Beach Assn. met Wednesday night at City Hall to

discuss this year’s policing, traffic and enforcement plans for the

holiday with members of the Newport Beach Police Department.

Police Chief Bob McDonell said the holiday has been a challenge for

the police for several years.

“I remember the days when this room used to be packed and emotions ran

high,” he said. “It’s a difficult day for you and for us. So let’s keep

our fingers crossed.”

He said that, in the 1970s, police had to deal with riotous

situations. But, he added, things have gotten a lot better thanks to

rigorous and proactive enforcement.

The Police Department this year has made a comprehensive plan for

patrol, as well as enforcement, based on suggestions from the task force.

There will be a few changes this year, said Lt. Rich Long, who has been

working closely with neighbors.

“Earlier, we used to have a three-officer squad assigned to specific

areas,” he said. This year, they will have a four-officer foot beat squad

from Newport Pier through Seashore Drive, and 39th Street to 46th Street,

Long said.

Officers are expected to make more arrests this year than last year

because of the way patrolling has been reconfigured, he said.

Rooftop partying will also be controlled by on-call building officials

who have the authority to declare unsafe conditions and disperse a party

where hundreds of people are gathered on rooftops.

“There really is a danger that the structure might collapse,” Long

said.

The police will make its presence felt beginning Tuesday night.

“We’ll have at least 25% more officers on patrol than we have

normally,” Long said. “That will help us set the tone for the Fourth.”

A 39th Street resident who spoke at the meeting but did not want his

name mentioned said short-term rentals have made life difficult for him

and his wife, who live there year-round.

“Especially on the Fourth of July, these become party houses,” he

said. “Everything goes out of control, and it’s as if there’s no brain,

just emotion running around.”

Residents said they are intimidated by the sheer number of people who

flock to their neighborhood on that day.

“It’s definitely the number of people,” said Paul Watkins. “It’s

scary. I just hope last year’s incidents don’t repeat this time.”