Pacific Index

Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Frankie Guros

Before you think about taking another step out on the streets with that open beer in your hand, it might be safe to think again. Those days when a person of the legal drinking age can walk around this small college town are now numbered, as the city, along with the local police, continues with plans to ban public drinking in Forest Grove.
The issue has been that business owners have complained about drinkers taking up sidewalks, or passed out in parks and other public places around town. Police officials have also gotten more and more calls and concerns, as public drinkers bring more attention to themselves, causing fear for some and by increasing in number within recent months.
By getting rid of this law that has been allowed in Forest Grove for many years, Police Chief Kerry Aleshire's goal is to create "somewhere that doesn't cause a sense of fear." It is his goal to keep Forest Grove livable, where a mother could take a walk in the park with her children without worrying about a drunk person getting too close.
Most of these issues though, don't come from the people or students of the university, as the open container law mainly draws in homeless into the city, hurting the city's image. "We haven't gotten much complaints about the university students," said Aleshire. "We did raise the issue to the university and they were very supportive of the proposal." Though he doesn't believe that this will take care of the homeless issue in Forest Grove, this will make the city a much safer place to live.
Chief Aleshire presented the proposal to the city's Park and Recreation Commission and Public Safety Advisory Commission earlier last week, which he said turned out to be quite successful. "It went really well," he said. "They were very supportive of it." Aleshire will then meet with the City Council some time in October, after finalizing plans based on the input from both Commissions.
Once the entire process has been passed and will be made an official law of the city, no one will be allowed alcohol consumption on sidewalks, parks and other public locations in Forest Grove. This would include city parks, whether it be a soccer game or a barbeque or partying, hopping from one house to another.
"This law will allow us to control the drinking in visible places," said Aleshire. "If this change for the city encourages people to be more responsible, to stop and think and stay out of trouble, I know that we did our job."

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