Belmont Shore Community Calls for Solutions to Spring Break-Style Bar Violence
Long Beach Residents Call for Action Amid Rising Violence in Belmont Shore
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Residents of Belmont Shore are expressing frustration over what they describe as unchecked drunken behavior and violence spilling out from local bars, prompting urgent calls for governmental intervention.
Community members report that their neighborhood has increasingly resembled a “party city,” with incidents of public intoxication, property damage, and hit-and-run accidents becoming commonplace. The atmosphere has deteriorated to the point where some residents cite severe quality-of-life issues, including two high-profile homicides on Second Street this year.
Local homeowner Mike Anderson shared his distressing experiences, stating that a car once crashed into his property, damaging his brick wall. He also noted that two of his children’s vehicles were hit by drivers fleeing the scene after consuming alcohol. "It’s like party city during spring break, every weekend in Long Beach," Anderson remarked, adding that he was able to "sleep through the night" during a brief, voluntary midnight curfew that recently ended.
The violence in the neighborhood escalated in 2024 with the shooting death of Jeremy Spears, who was killed while trying to intervene in a fight, highlighting the urgent need for action. Residents have called for more rigorous city enforcement measures, especially after a voluntary curfew did not result in long-term improvements.
Proposals for permanent solutions have stalled, including a previously discussed mandatory midnight curfew that would extend for a year. Meanwhile, affected neighborhoods are advocating for specialized fees from alcohol establishments to help fund enforcement measures.
While some cities in California have employed similar strategies successfully, it remains unclear whether the Long Beach City Council will revisit the proposal. Efforts to gather responses from local business owners regarding their role in the ongoing issues have not yet yielded results.
"Other California cities have fees that are collected from the alcohol establishments that help pay for alcohol enforcement officers and other team members," said resident Michele Simon, suggesting that Belmont Shore could benefit from a similar approach.
As Belmont Shore residents seek solutions, they are encouraged to attend upcoming city council meetings and report instances of property damage and public intoxication to local law enforcement. The community remains hopeful that meaningful change will soon restore peace to their neighborhood.
