Alcohol consumption at Christmas Hill and Las Animas under
scrutiny, but council members appear opposed to such an
ordinance
Gilroy – A future ordinance could give police new powers to crack down on gang members and homeless people who congregate to drink in Gilroy’s two largest parks, but it could also mean families have to cross beer and wine off their picnic menu.
The move has the support of the city’s police chief but could run into opposition among council members, who do not appear eager to punish all residents for problems caused by a handful of people.
Officials have discussed banning liquor in Christmas Hill Park and Las Animas Veterans Park for years, but the ordinance did not come under serious study until the hiring earlier this year of Community Services Director Susan Andrade-Wax.
She and Gilroy Police Chief Gregg Giusiana have taken the lead in discussions of an ordinance to ban alcohol consumption in picnic areas in both public spaces. In theory, the ordinance would allow the Garlic Festival at Christmas Hill Park and other special events to continue serving liquor by obtaining permits.
Andrade-Wax could not be reached for comment, but Giusiana said Gilroy is one of the few cities in the county that has not banned alcohol in all of its parks. Currently, liquor is banned in all Gilroy parks except for Christmas Hill and Las Animas.
“Right now in the two parks, if you’re in the picnic area you can drink,” he said. “The idea is that for a family picnic you can have a beer or two. But it frequently turns into a large group of people sitting there drinking. Right now the officers can only go out there if someone is clearly intoxicated.”
The new ordinance would empower police to issue citations and fine anyone drinking in the parks.
Allison Bass, an Arnold Drive resident who lives behind Las Animas Veterans Park, said she doubts she would support such an ordinance, even though she personally does not drink.
“I’m really split, but I think that it comes down to our basic rights,” she said. “Obviously I don’t appreciate people hanging out with brown bags, but you can’t say family people can drink while others can’t. I don’t think they should take the right away from everybody.”
Giusiana said that the ordinance remains in the study stage and that draft language has not yet been written, but it appears the city’s top leaders will approach it with a healthy dose of skepticism.
“I’m getting tired of banning everything,” Mayor Al Pinheiro said, citing a recent proposal to prohibit fireworks. “When do we ever allow responsible people to enjoy themselves and not always have to think of the few people who can’t follow the rules?”
Councilman Craig Gartman expressed similar concerns, saying the city has to find a way to balance the need for greater enforcement with the public’s rights.
“One of the concerns that I have is that if you have a little family get-together and someone wants to have some beer and wine with their picnic, you’re going to make that impossible,” he said. “So far we just haven’t figured out what that magic formula is.”
Andrade-Wax is expected to present the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission with a draft ordinance in coming months. The commission’s next meeting takes place 6:30pm Jan. 17 at City Hall, 7351 Rosanna St.
