The first time I visited Legend Sports Bar on Long Beach’s iconic Belmont Shore was about 15 years ago.
The place was as advertised. A wall of TVs showing local and out-of-town games, cheap drinks, sports memorabilia, a lively crowd, and a lively atmosphere.
It was the kind of place where Chicago Bears fans like me could dive into some beef dip to drown our sorrows after losing by yet another 20 points.
I remember thinking at the time how fun the local Belmont Shore in general was. Safety and criminality were not considered.
That’s not the case anymore, and Belmont Shore, especially along Second Avenue Boulevard, looks different, according to residents, business owners and politicians.
In response to the City of Long Beach’s efforts to address what residents say is an increase in crime, alcohol consumption and unregulated vending on Belmont Shore, four bars that normally stay open until 2 a.m., including the popular eatery Legends, have agreed to close at midnight.
I looked into what’s going on and what the solution is. Let’s take a look at some of my notes.
bloodshed on the beach
Jeremy Andrew Spears, 32, of Belmont Shore, Oct. 25. Police said Spears, the father of a 9-year-old boy, was shot around 1:30 a.m. as he left the bar with other bar patrons.
The killing was the third homicide of the year.
Belmont Shore resident Brian Cochran said at the Nov. 11 City Council meeting, “We had already witnessed two violent deaths a year ago related to bars on 2nd Avenue, and his death could have been prevented by the promise of safer times.”
“It’s clear what has changed,” said Jeffrey Cozart, principal partner of Belmont Athletic Club, referring to the lack of police patrols on Belmont Shore.
“I don’t mean this in a negative way. I understand that there is a shortage of police officers,” he said at the meeting. “Please do whatever you can to get more help.”
The changing landscape of Belmont Shore
Matt Peterson, co-owner of Legends and president of the Belmont Shore Business Association, places some of the blame on unscrupulous street performers and buskers, along with street vendors who bring in “a late-night element that has nothing to do with business.”
“They’re trying to take it to another level,” Peterson said. “They use amplifiers and speakers, and they attract people who travel through the district.”
Peterson said too many tourists skip Belmont Shore’s bars and restaurants and instead seek food and entertainment on the streets.
“They can stop in for food, music, or even buy alcohol at a liquor store and hang out for hours without any repercussions,” he said.
Is crime really increasing?
Although Belmont Shore residents are angry about what they see as an increase in violence, Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish said fears of such crimes are not borne out by the statistics.
Hebeish said murders and shootings are down 30% and 35%, respectively, compared to last year.
Hebeish said Spears’ killing was the first homicide of the year in Belmont Shore and the second in the police department’s broader Eastern Patrol Division, which covers 24 square miles.
The police department said there were seven similar murders last year.
next step
The City Council directed the city manager and city attorney to establish formal operating requirements for businesses along Belmont Shore, gather community feedback on the issue and develop a late-night safety plan. The City Council directed staff to complete the task within 45 days.
Part of that plan includes re-establishing a police walking beat and determining the feasibility of reopening the Belmont Shore precinct.
The council also wants stronger drink-driving checkpoints, more targeted late-night crackdowns on street performers and vendors, and a 45-day hotspots report from the city manager to find out where crime is taking place in the area.
Only time will tell whether efforts like this will make a difference along the Belmont Shore. For now,
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