Speech to Newport Beach City Council
Regarding: New proposed '4th of July' ordinances

I’d like to present to you, a hypothetical situation. It’s the 4th of July. I have 50 friends over at my house celebrating our independence, our freedom! We’re all of legal drinking age, it’s a national holiday. We’re going to relax and YES, have a few beers. I see a pretty girl walking by my house so I stop her to talk to her.

Suddenly 2 of the 12 officers assigned to my street come over and tell her she can’t stand there. She has to keep moving. Why? Because some years ago someone in NB gov’t decided that standing still on the sidewalk should be illegal. This girl, like most of us living on Balboa has to live in constant fear of being harassed by the cops and ticketed for something she never knew was illegal in the first place, so she reluctantly starts walking again. I decide to go out on the street and continue our conversation. But I’m so excited to be talking to this new girl that I mistakenly take my beer with me. Now the cops stop me, the girl keeps walking; I’ll never see her again, and I’m slapped with a $100 ticket. This is the 4th of July last year. This is how bad it has become already.

If these new proposed laws pass, this year, I would be slapped with a $300 ticket. This is wrong. The punishment should fit the crime. $100 is harsh enough. $300 is ridiculous.

These same cops who just ticketed me can now declare my gathering of 50 people on my porch quote/unquote “out-of-control.” There are no guidelines for out of control. It is completely at the officer’s discrection. He tells everyone to leave. If it takes me 11 minutes to clear everyone out of my house, it’s a $600 ticket. Some of my guests have traveled 3 hours to be here. And now because of this absurd legislation, hanging out with friends and having beers on a patio on your own private property can be considered illegal. This is ridiculous, this is unacceptable, and it’s un-American.

I understand the intent of this new legislation. A lot of people come into town and no one wants to see anyone get hurt. So have the police do what they were hired to do – Protect and Serve. If a fight breaks out, the police should be there. If someone is belligerently drunk and violent the police should be there. If someone from the 909 wants to pee on my house, my barbecue, or even worse on one of my guests then the cops should be there. But breaking up peaceful gatherings on private property of legal aged adults celebrating our independence and our freedom should NOT be the function of the police! Writing $300 tickets because someone accidentally takes their beer onto the sidewalk should not be the function of the police!

Members of the Newport Beach City Council, you claim to represent the people of Newport Beach. My name is Matt, I live in Newport Beach, on Balboa Peninsula. And I am asking you today as one of the residents you represent – Do NOT pass this new legislation. STOP MAKING FUN ILLEGAL!