Enforcing curfews, more police help, vacation rental rules among fixes Newport Beach looking at after July 4 chaos

After presenting a comprehensive report on the mayhem that overtook the Balboa Peninsula over the Fourth of July weekend, City Manager Seimone Jurjis, during a City Council study session Tuesday night, introduced several proactive measures meant to ensure Newport Beach does not experience a similar event again.

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Among the suggestions for the council to consider, he said, are using earlier public messaging, enacting traffic controls with places for those getting picked up from the beach, enhanced curfews for juveniles in the city’s specially designated enforcement zones and reevaluating rules for short-term lodging. Jurjis also suggested securing help from out-of-county police departments in advance to bolster law enforcement presence, partnering with social media platforms for additional enforcement, and expanding partnerships with regional intelligence on social media.

Councilmember had some of their own suggestions and also voiced support for some that came from concerned residents who recapped the holiday events from their own perspectives over about two hours Tuesday night.

Mayor Lauren Kleiman commended police, first responders and the city’s code enforcement for their prompt action — praise shared by other councilmembers and many of the residents who spoke — and said she spent the week analyzing what happened and what could be done to make sure “this never happens again in Newport Beach.”

“I spent the last week analyzing, researching and reaching out to mayors and police chiefs across the country who dealt with similar circumstances,” she said.  “Our task now is to build on measures we’ve already put in place over the last year and ensure nothing like this ever happens in Newport Beach again.”

“These teen takeovers, unsanctioned gatherings on social media at theme parks and city centers are surging across the country,” she added. “What began as a rowdy adolescent meetup has mutated into threats that lead to violence.”

The distinction, she said in Newport Beach, was that police arrested the people in record numbers and without major injuries or destruction.

Kleiman talked about partnering with TikTok and other platforms to work with city officials and police departments to be more aware of problems that could be building. She also introduced a TikTok representative who said the company is “ready to take down harmful content” and to work with city officials.

Thousands of juveniles and young adults visited the Balboa Peninsula over the Fourth of July weekend, according to authorities, with celebrations on the holiday erupting into chaos. Revelers blocked roadways and emergency vehicles, pulled down street signs and trashed landscaping, fireworks and mortars were aimed into crowds and at police officers and displays outside a Pavilions grocery store were ransacked, officials said.

The unruly behavior prompted a response from Newport Beach police, who got assistance from at least 15 surrounding agencies after requesting help. Videos posted on social media showed police officers on horseback breaking up a crowd on the beach.

An unlawful assembly was declared around 8:30 p.m. on July 4, and residents were asked to stay at home. More than 400 people were detained between midnight July 3 and 6 a.m. July 5, authorities said, of which most, 316 received citations for misdemeanors and 37 were arrested.

Newport Beach officials said most of those arrested were residents of Arizona (145) and California (161), but very few were city residents.

City leaders are looking at whether social media influencers targeting Newport Beach as a party spot contributed to the celebrations getting out of hand and are also reviewing whether the mayor’s “Not in Newport ” campaign, which asked for polite and respectful behavior, may have backfired.

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While Newport Beach has always been a popular place on the Fourth of July, Newport Beach officials said the behavior from visitors this summer was distinctly different from in years past, when most arrests were due to alcohol and the behaviors associated with overdrinking.

Officials had seen a similar trend during last year’s spring break season and put new rules in place ahead of this year’s holidays to enforce violations and address bad behavior.

Dozens of residents, including some from nearby cities, weighed in during the council meeting, with many thanking the police and the city for preventing the mayhem from getting worse, but also criticizing city leaders for not acting more quickly on the holiday as the crowds began to build.

They asked leaders to find ways to reduce traffic to the city’s most popular areas, address social media targeting of the city and vacation rentals as party houses.

“This is a predictable consequence of a growing reputation that Newport is tolerant of bad behavior,” one resident told councilmembers.  “We were told last year this wouldn’t happen again, and it has.”

Rod Sudbeck said he lives on the peninsula and watched a man be pummeled for telling teens to “go home.”

“The city is responsible to recognize forseable risks,” he told councilmembers. “Last year, many residents voiced concerns; this was not unforeseeable. Newport Beach has seen this before, there is a playbook.”

“Zero tolerance begins early,” he added. “Bring back preventive measures that worked before. This wasn’t a surprise; this was hours of escalation.”

Kleiman said she had a meeting set up with the Coastal Commission to discuss “balancing public safety needs.” She also said she supports restrictions on unaccompanied minors and possible earlier curfews in enhanced public safety zones, greater parent accountability and adding DUI checkpoints on the peninsula and in Corona Del Mar during enhanced fine periods. She would also like to see the city consider an enhanced mass-gathering ordinance that the police chief could use, she said.

“I’d like to target markets we know people are coming from and target the parents of these people,” she added. And, she said she’d like to build on the success of the “Not in Newport” campaign.

Councilmembers also suggested looking at more controls on short-term rentals, adding cameras around them and improving traffic patterns. Councilmember Noah Blom praised the Balboa Ferry, which continued running and took people off the peninsula.

“This is the first step in the beginning of a serious planning process,” said Councilmember Joe Stapleton, who represents the peninsula and talked about hosting a town hall for the community at a later date. “I want to be clear we are committed to getting it right.”

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