Alcohol is now permanently banned from Isla Vista’s beaches and three bluff-top parks, the county Board of Supervisors decided on Nov. 3, replacing the temporary six-month ban enacted as an emergency measure to prevent Floatopia 2.
The county sheriff’s, parks, fire and health department supported the ban unanimously, according to Chris Henson, the county’s 3rd District Chief of Staff, who serves Isla Vista.
Floatopia cost the county about $20,000 in law enforcement and cleanup costs, and had 33 people hospitalized.
“It’s strictly amazing we didn’t have a death,” Olmstead said.
The event’s gigantic crowds and absence of accountable party-throwers made regulation an impossibility, forcing the decision.
If sponsored, scheduled events can be permitted to have alcohol in the 22 parks owned by I.V. Recreation and Parks Department, and are subject to approval by security measures. The possible cost of deputies to work the event is determined on a case-by-case basis.
The open nature of the beach makes it unlikely that any Alcohol is now permanently banned from Isla Vista’s beaches and three bluff-top parks, the county Board of Supervisors decided on Nov. 3, replacing the temporary six-month ban enacted as an emergency measure to prevent Floatopia 2.
The open nature of the beach makes it unlikely that any events involving alcohol will be allowed there.
“It’s a good thing in the end,” said Haley Adams, a 19-year-old Environmental Studies major at City College and an I.V. resident.
She reflects the thoughts of most members of the coastal community, in that losing one party is a small price to pay for keeping the beaches clean and safe.
Terry Hurt, 41, lamented the loss of his ability to “come down to the beach and have a beer and watch the sunset,” but was concerned about the damage to the local wildlife from litter and abandoned rafts.
There have been fewer fights compared to last year when drinking was still allowed, though there has been an increase in citations issued for alcohol offenses.
Samer Balla, manager of Keg N’ Bottle in I.V., is concerned about losing business and would like to see Floatopia and other events held in a controlled environment. Even though “people are still gonna party,” he said that stopping an event that generates so much sales revenue is bad for the economy.
Despite Balla’s concerns, most of the community supports the restriction.
“If we’re not going to take care of the beach, we don’t deserve to have it,” said Carissa Hayes, a 19-year-old UCSB student, while collecting shells on the now tranquil beach below Del Playa Drive.