How Dry We Are

The possibility of booze free North Beach Fests (both neighborhood and jazz) came one step closer as San Francisco park and recreation commissioners voted yesterday to ban the selling of booze and liquor inside Washington Square Park. The organizers of the Jazz Fest will appeal the decision.

The decision was at the behest of the neighborhood types who complained about the drunken hordes of riff-raff acting all riff-raff-y. They were opposed by neighborhood businesses and organizers of the festival who claim that without the selling of booze, the festival can't be supported financially. Noticeably absent in the debate are the drunken hordes who descend upon North Beach for said festivals to do nothing but drink and get rowdy. Who will speak for them? Sure, the Mayor decides not to let bikers roam free on Saturday's and everyone gets pissy and protests but the city government decides not to let drunks and alcoholics have their fun and not one chant is chanted.

Coming on the heels of cuts in park service and a possible ban of beach bonfires, we're looking at a city that is possibly losing it's sense of fun. You know what they say: first they banned the booze and I said nothing....