Quotes for Media on People First Safety Approach for Belmont Shore

The following are quotes from Belmont Shore residents regarding the Belmont Shore Residents Association (BSRA) People First Safety Approach found here.

From Julie Dean, 30-year resident, city commissioner, BSRA president:

“The BSRA board has long worked in partnership with residents and continues that work on this issue. The board voted to endorse the people-first framework and to pursue the elimination of violence in our community. Two recent BSRA meetings addressing alcohol-safety concerns drew strong attendance, reflecting broad community engagement and a shared commitment to improving quality of life, and demonstrating strong resident demand for meaningful action to improve neighborhood safety.

“This people-first approach reflects the collective input and voice of both the organization and the Belmont Shore community.

“As the only Belmont Shore association solely dedicated to representing residents’ interests, the BSRA is committed to serving the community through open communication and unified action.”

From Brian Cochrane, 30-year resident; BSRA vice president and secretary:

“To serve residents’ needs, you have to first want to hear from actual residents. It’s clear from the city manager’s Dec. 24 memo and the vaguely framed input opportunity of a single upcoming Zoom meeting how little the city drew on residents’ input compared to the wide list of ‘stakeholders’ — including the problematic businesses themselves — who were invited to meetings right after the October shooting death. Those businesses not only had input but made clear what they were willing to accept, such that a voluntary 30-day early closure replaced the one-year moratorium sought by the community.

“The city memo is a lengthy compendium of “no’s” and “can’ts” that reflects a perfunctory scan of other nearby municipalities’ policies, draws from a flawed and inapt Downtown Dining and Entertainment District example and only vaguely touches on enforcement. By contrast, the BSRA and its task force have created a robust people-first framework that is deeply researched, draws from documented best practices and examples in other policy-leading communities, and outlines mechanisms for genuine enforcement and impact. It invites all of our city’s neighborhoods into the process.”

From Michele Simon, public health attorney and Belmont Shore homeowner

“Having spent my 30-year career advancing public health policies that prevent harm to communities, it’s clear that Long Beach needs a research-based, prevention-focused approach to alcohol regulation. This people-first framework was developed with input from public health and alcohol-policy experts and draws on proven best practices from cities across California. It recognizes that late-night alcohol harm is preventable when cities invest in adequate oversight and meaningful accountability. We look forward to coordinating with other neighborhoods across Long Beach to push the city to adopt policies that protect residents and visitors, support public safety, and prevent further loss of life.

From Mike Anderson, retired business executive and impacted Belmont Shore homeowner for two years:

“Given the limited availability of police and city enforcement to ensure safety in Belmont Shore and across the city, establishing a transparent bar/restaurant compliance program with clear rules and meaningful accountability is the most effective path forward. Existing rules are difficult to locate and are not consistently enforced.

“Compliance requirements should be clearly documented and accessible to patrons, restaurant employees and managers, residents, beat police, and city oversight bodies. The compliance program needs to include clearly defined reporting and escalation procedures, with regular reporting and review by the city in partnership with residents.” 

From Rita Santos-Oyama, longtime resident and BSRA member:

“As a resident of 25 years, both as a homeowner and landlord, it’s long past due that bars and restaurant owners operating late at night be held accountable by the city for the harms resulting from their operations.

Bars and restaurants across the city that serve alcohol into late-night hours need to take responsibility, per their business licenses and via more effective ordinances, for the after-hours chaos and violence that spill out from their establishments and impact our neighborhoods from the first district to the ninth.

“It’s imperative for safety to be not just a watchword but a lived experience across all of our communities.”