Open Container Ban on the Boardwalk Overturned

The Star-bellied sneetch is not superior to the non-starbellied sneetch...all sneetches are equal

The Escambia Board of County Commissioners has voted, by a 3-2 margin, to let the open container ban at the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk sunset.

This will effectively end the prohibition on walking around the boardwalk with open containers of alcoholic beverages.  But in reality, I do not believe much (with the exception of the signage) will change.  To those with whom I have spoken and who frequent the boardwalk and who are very familiar with the issue--the problem is a lack of enforcement.

"They are not enforcing the current rule, so what good is this rule if it is not being enforced?" asked one individual with whom I recently communicated on this topic.

These drinks were purchased at one licensed premise, then carried
out of that licensed premise out on to the boardwalk-in direct
violation of our existing ordinance

"Just look at the pictures--these kids walked illegally from Bamboo Willies to sit at those seats outside of another account."  (see pictures on the right and below) When reacting to accounts of a 10-minute fight posted online from the boardwalk---this same source asked a really straightforward, rational question...



"Where were the deputies during the 10-minute fight?!?"

For my part, I was willing to give it a year, and that is why I compromised last year and voted to go forward with the ban for 2017 and then to evaluate data this year.  I did not and I do not want to punish the hard working, blue-collar worker who makes $400 a week, wants to unwind at the seashell, and can't afford a $100 bar tab--but who still wants to go where the action is and enjoy a couple of beers on the boardwalk.  Why should I punish him?  Answer, I won't.  And I also won't banish him to some dark and empty corner of the sandy beach like he's somehow inferior to those that can afford high-dollar cocktails at the boardwalk clubs--like a modern-day version of "The Sneetches."  So I voted last year the way I did to compromise, ahead of the year's data which I have now analyzed.....

The data is in:  Alcohol sales are stable, slightly increasing;  Crime--year over year many infractions have gone way up. So the ban had no effect on crime on the boardwalk.

Therefore, the board voted to end the ban.

I was provided this picture from a recent Friday evening, of folks strolling on the boardwalk, outside of licensed premises carrying open containers of alcoholic beverages in violation of our existing ordinance--and state beverage law!

I think going forward we need more security at the boardwalk, more enforcement of existing beverage law (no moving from licensed premise to licensed premise with mixed drinks, no selling

 mixed drinks for off-premise consumption or selling mixed drinks off the licensed premise [e.g. cocktail waitresses selling mixed cocktails on mom's beach from the boardwalk], and if there are

Explaining Our Nation's Fiscal Disaster in 200 Words Using a Dr. Seuss Cartoon...

$19 Trillion is a lot of money, but explaining our nation's debt and problems to students can be simplified using a character from "The Sneeches," some sarcasm, a little hyperbole, some creativity,  and 200 words.  Here Goes....

Don’t Trust the Bank of Sylvester McBean

Sylvester McBean is CEO of a bank. 

He’s paid $100,000 yearly. 

This isn’t enough, so he spends $150,000 yearly.  

He’s racked up $700,000.00 on the bank’s charge-card. 

Recently, McBean bought new homes, new cars, and a pool.  “We must keep up appearances”, McBean tells Shareholders & Trustees….

The trustees, a mix of liberals and conservatives, allow McBean’s extravagant deficit spending to continue, thereby endorsing it.

The trustees don’t control McBean’s overspending because they’re well compensated—and the bank’s shareholders haven’t complained-they don’t pay attention to financial statements and other such nuisances...

So trustees know they can print more stock, diluting existing shares whenever they want more cash!  “Let them eat cake” is their condescending attitude toward shareholders!

Now trustees congratulate themselves because McBean cut his deficit spending in half; he now only spends $125k yearly! (His salary is still $100K.)

Discussing McBean’s spending is unpopular.  How will McBean’s huge debt be repaid? Not addressed- trustees simply ignore the problem…

McBean’s contract expires in two years. 

Nevertheless, trustees naively believe future trustees, shareholders, and/or other CEOs will “fix the finances.”

These finances can’t be “fixed”, though.

(BTW-we’re the shareholders in this “bank”-congratulations!)