Survey Finds Litter, Public Intoxication, Noise in Imperial Beach

A survey commissioned by the Chula Vista based Institute for Public Strategies found that noise and litter, public intoxication and disorderly conduct are visible problems Imperial Beach residents still see in their community.

The Imperial Beach Neighborhood Survey was carried out from late 2009 through 2010 by the Center for Community Research.

A total of 244 IB residents were interviewed, and 70 percent reported often seeing empty beer, wine and/or liquor bottles on the street, sidewalks or in alleys.

Among the issues:

• 60 percent said noise and litter were a problem in their neighborhoods.
• 43 percent said they witnessed public intoxication.
• 30 percent said they witnessed public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
• 10 percent or less said they reported problems they witnessed to the Sheriff's Department.

"I think the numbers with noise and litter are high," said Lyth al Hanoush of Imperial Beach. "Even if there is noise though, what do people expect? This is a beach town. It's part of what we are. As far as if things have gotten better, I'd say yes. The sheriff has done a great job of cleaning up this place and keeping a presence on the streets."

Gerry Barba, who grew up in Imperial Beach and owns Video 4 You on 13th Street, said, "I think the noise and litter numbers might be inflated.

"Things are definitely better here now, though. Twenty years ago, I'd never take my family down Seacoast [Drive], considering the biker activity. Now I take my girlfriend and daughter down there regularly."

Interviews were primarily conducted in front of the pier and the library, said Alicia DeLeon-Torres with the Institute for Public Strategies.

"It wasn't just surveying residents but also observation of environment every first Saturday of the month," by volunteers, she said, some whom were from IB.

Litter and public intoxication weren't found to be prevalent problems citywide but were primarily observed in certain parts of the city, she said.

The South Bay Community Change Project is a San Diego County funded program to promote the reduction of alcohol and drug-related problems in communities.

Imperial Beach was the first city to be surveyed. Up next is National City later this year and Chula Vista in 2012.

The idea for the survey "came out of what staff heard at community meetings in Imperial Beach," DeLeon-Torres said.

Jamie Ferreria moved to Imperial Beach with her family a little over a year ago but has lived in the South Bay most of her life. She thinks the Sheriff's Department has done a lot to help keep order.

"They've done a good job of improving the image of this place," she said.

The South Bay Community Change Project said the survey's finding is evidence the city should continue to support the Responsible Retailer Program, a partnership between the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and alcohol retailers.