Council disconnects new controls on cyber cafes

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- During a light -- and at times humorous -- discussion,

the City Council on Monday scrutinized various components of a law

designed to keep cyber cafes free of gang-related crime and voted 3 to 1

to take no further regulatory action.

Cyber cafes, previously regarded as research facilities by city

planners, garnered a second look after a gang-related murder in December

at a similar venue in Fountain Valley. The Costa Mesa Police Department

became concerned about the city’s two cyber cafes -- Cyber City at 3033

Bristol St. and 3rd Dimension Online at 1525 Mesa Verde Drive East -- and

asked the council to consider more stringent rules.

Council members picked apart the anticipated changes.

Mayor Linda Dixon asked about the proposed reservation system for game

stations.

Councilwoman Libby Cowan challenged the suggestion to allow only one

person per computer station.

Councilwoman Karen Robinson was curious about the reasoning behind a

recommended midnight curfew.

Costa Mesa Police Lt. Ron Smith, who presented the proposal, promptly

returned each inquiry lobbed at him, and audience members shifted their

gazes from him to the dais and back again, as if watching a tennis match.

Smith said players who gather around one game, or computer station,

tend to egg each other on and spark an energy that could escalate to

violence. Likewise, players who gather in large groups to wait for a

station can also create conflicts, Smith said.

“We are trying to keep the emotions down so we don’t run into the same

problems with shootings, murders, assaults, etc.,” Smith said.

The midnight curfew was just a suggestion and could be changed, he

added.

Councilman Chris Steel remained quiet throughout the exchange and

offered no reason for his dissenting vote. Councilman Gary Monahan was

absent.

Mark Tong, co-owner of 3rd Dimension Online, spoke out, saying his

company has consistently worked with police to ensure they are providing

a safe environment, even during the wee hours of the morning.

Tong strongly objected to a portion of the ordinance that would have

forced his business to apply for a conditional-use permit, which carries

more stringent requirements.

“We have never had any problems,” Tong said. “This [law] is trying to

prevent crime, but we’ve never had a crime so why should we have to go

through this?”

The owners of 3rd Dimension Online blamed the problems at other

cities’ cyber cafes on the surrounding neighborhoods and clientele. Costa

Mesa cyber cafes simply do not attract gang member as customers, the

owners argued.

Co-owner Quoc Nguyen illustrated his point by referring to two high

school students who were recognized earlier in the evening as Human

Relations Essay Contest winners.

“Two of our best customers are the guys who just got awards tonight,”

Nguyen said.

Audience members laughed out loud.

Cowan said she appreciated that police were taking steps to prevent

crime but said she did not see a problem with these types of businesses

in the city.

“We have a tendency to eliminate everything teenagers like to do and

then yell at them for skateboarding or hanging out on a street corner,”

Cowan said.

Doug Scribner, a Costa Mesa resident and a representative of the

Libertarian Party of Orange County, said the proposed law was a knee-jerk

reaction to problems that are not relevant to Costa Mesa.

“This is a law based on problems in other cities,” Scribner said.

“There haven’t been any complaints in Costa Mesa; let’s not impose

excessive regulations on this new type of business.”

Dixon reluctantly sided with Scribner.

“I agree with Mr. Scribner, and that’s kind of scary in itself,” Dixon

said, smiling. “I think [these businesses] provide a place where people

can go and have fun and interact with other people.”

After the meeting, Smith walked up to Tong and Nguyen -- whom he

worked with previously -- and shook their hands.

“Keep it safe, guys,” Smith said.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .