Two months ago, we said new guidelines proposed by the Morgan
Hill Downtown Association to reduce alcohol consumption and make
downtown more family friendly were far too punitive and would do
little to curb unruly behavior and violence. Nothing’s changed.
Two months ago, we said new guidelines proposed by the Morgan Hill Downtown Association to reduce alcohol consumption and make downtown more family friendly were far too punitive and would do little to curb unruly behavior and violence. Nothing’s changed.
In August 2009, the association floated proposals to regulate downtown bars by suggesting they be required to stop serving alcohol by midnight. That was in the midst of a growing number of incidents involving violence, property damage, noise and public urination downtown late at night, when the bars would approach closing time. With the closing of one of those bars – Legends Bar & Grill – the downtown got quieter, until several violent incidents, including a stabbing and the May 29 shooting behind Dirty’s Tap & Tacos, which opened earlier this year in the space vacated by Legends.
Now, the association is asking the City Council to take action.
But will those new rules really accomplish the goal? Unlikely. In 2009, the city of Campbell enacted its downtown policy, on which the local proposal is based. It was drafted for identical reasons cited by downtown merchants and residents. And while those incidents did not decrease, they did stabilize.
Campbell police Chief Greg Finch told reporter Michael Moore that criminal and disruptive behavior is likely to accompany any project that aims to redevelop a city or neighborhood as a popular destination, and Campbell’s policy was designed to “put a cap on it.”
So how do we decrease the number of violent incidents downtown? That answer is easy, however what isn’t easy is how to pay for it. Morgan Hill Police Chief Bruce Cumming has sought the aid of the Redevelopment Agency to help fund a unit to patrol the downtown. A visible police presence downtown – officers on foot, preferably – would do a lot more to lessen unruly behavior than forcing bars and restaurants to stop serving alcohol by 1 a.m. and placing other restrictions on all establishments because a few generate most of the problems.
Forcing those establishments with a high number of calls to hire private security would be a start. As far as taxpayer dollars, it’s all about trade-offs.
We have a limited amount of money to spend and the city council needs to prioritize that spending. Do we want a safe, family-friendly downtown? Then work with merchants and residents, and find the funds to make it safe.
