Oceanside is spending almost twice as much on Fourth of July activities and public safety than in previous years, and at least one City Council member thinks it's too much.
City Manager Peter Weiss set this year's costs at $400,000 to $500,000, which Oceanside Harbor and Beaches manager Ray Duncan said was almost twice last year's expenditure. Weiss did not respond to a request for exact figures yesterday.
The celebration includes a daytime street fair, called O'Fest, and nighttime fireworks off the municipal pier in downtown Oceanside.
About 200 law enforcement officers, including all Oceanside police, 60 lifeguards and a half-dozen paramedics are on duty, reportedly double last year's staffing. City officials have expressed concerns about gang activity at the events, where at least two stabbings occurred last year.
City redevelopment manager Kathy Baker told the Economic Development Commission last month that detectives from other jurisdictions would be brought in especially to identify gang members.
About 211,000 people attended Fourth of July festivities last year – more than the entire 180,000 population of the city, said Police Chief Frank McCoy.
For the first time, the city has hired a significant number of outside police and a helicopter to patrol the events. Command centers are being set up in two locations: downtown and at Oceanside High School about half a mile east of the beach. Streets will be blocked off west of the railroad tracks downtown.
Duncan, who has been watching Fourth of July celebrations in Oceanside for 48 years, said the type of visitors has changed from family-oriented groups to people who seem to come to cause trouble.
Councilwoman Esther Sanchez made similar comments yesterday.
“Fourth of July used to be a family event,” Sanchez said. “It's no longer that.”
“The crowds are out of control, the costs are out of control,” she said.
Sanchez said the city could celebrate the Fourth of July in another way, suggesting that a Freedom Days Parade last Saturday could have been done today.
Weiss said the city's costs this year include $100,000 to the nonprofit MainStreet Oceanside, which organizes O'Fest's food booths, children's activities and entertainment; $50,000 for fireworks; and $35,000 for outside police.
The costs for doubling the number of law enforcement officers are included in his total estimate of $400,000 to $500,000.
Duncan said floodlights will aid in maintaining security. Portable toilets and trash cans have been set out for visitors' comfort.
“We want to try to keep a good image, but we're not doing it for the hotels,” Duncan said, that have either just opened or are planned for the beachfront. The increased security is aimed at making residents feel safe, he said.
Duncan noted that the beach has less sand this year. People who spread their blankets early, may find that high tide may have devoured the sand by the time of the 9 p.m. fireworks, he said.
Lola Sherman: (760) 476-8241; lola.sherman@uniontrib.com
