We aren’t in support of the bill banning alcohol on the river, and sent this letter to the bill’s author who asked for our support.
“In response to your request for support from our organization for legislation banning alcohol on the river during holiday weekends corresponding to the land ban of alcohol instituted by the County of Sacramento, I would refer you to our letter (attached) to the County from August 7, 2006.
“Regarding the preservation of the Parkway you mentioned as one basis for the legislation: there is currently a long-running issue of illegal camping on the Lower Reach of the Parkway that has led to several fires destroying valuable habitat, river pollution from human waste and camping debris, as well as ongoing and serious criminal activity, which is much more threatening to the Parkway.
“This area has been virtually off-limits to the adjacent community for legitimate recreation, and even County Park administrators have stated that it is an area they would not venture into alone.
“This is a problem that has been occurring year-round for several years, while the one you are currently responding to legislatively only happens during a few holiday weekends.
“We would certainly be supportive of legislation seriously banning the already illegal camping on the Parkway, and would hope you could address this issue in the future.
“For further information about this issue, I’ve attached a letter addressed to local leadership from February 20, 2006 which includes a list of recent media stories concerning the issue we feel is much more serious in terms of preserving the river and the Parkway.
“You can also access our report on the Lower Reach which addresses the illegal camping and some suggestions for addressing it, on our website at http://www.arpps.org/report.pdf
“Take care, and thank you for your work to preserve our Parkway.”
David H. Lukenbill, Senior Policy Director
American River Parkway Preservation Society
ATTACHMENT
Letter to County August 7, 2006:
August 7, 2006
An Open Letter to the Board of Supervisors
Re: the Proposed Ban of Alcohol in the Parkway
Our organization opposes the banning of alcohol in the Parkway during holiday periods, as it penalizes the many individuals, families, and group outings in which alcohol plays an enjoyable and responsible role in their recreation in the Parkway; to get at those few individuals who abuse alcohol.
The preferred method of dealing with alcohol abuse in the Parkway is through continued education about the dangers of over-drinking while around a river in which people drown regularly, and, most important, an increased police presence during holiday periods.
Sincerely,
Michael D. Rushford, President
Kristine Lea, Vice President
David H. Lukenbill, Treasurer/Senior Policy Director
Cc: BOS
Drinking on river targeted
By Jim Sanders - Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Aiming to crack down on booze-induced rowdiness, fighting and nudity, the California Assembly voted Monday to ban drinking along key American River rafting routes during major holiday weekends.
"It's essential to make sure that the behavior of a few doesn't ruin the ability of many to enjoy the American River," said Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, who crafted the measure.
Assembly Bill 951 would ban rafters from consuming or possessing alcohol along the lower American River from Hazel Avenue to the Watt Avenue Bridge during the three-day Fourth of July, Labor Day and Memorial Day weekends.
Jones hopes to have the measure passed by the Senate, and signed into law, in time for Memorial Day in three weeks. Its restrictions do not apply to motorboat passengers.
Monday's Assembly vote was 60-7, six votes more than the two-thirds supermajority required to qualify for immediate implementation.
But critics questioned the need for AB 951, saying misbehavior could be curbed simply by better enforcement of existing laws.
