The Lengthy Seaside Metropolis Council has handed a brand new ordinance barring adults from visiting playgrounds except they’ve a toddler with themCouncil members voted unanimously to approve the so known as Child Zone Regulation, which might ban adults from the town’s 80 playgrounds except they’re supervising a toddler below 12 years previous. Childless adults would nonetheless be capable to go to the remainder of the parks, together with benches, the toilet and different park amenities. Metropolis Councilman Al Austin mentioned within the final yr, playgrounds had been vandalized, costing the town greater than $1 million and that crime additionally elevated the place kids play. “There have been complaints of grownup actions, like consuming and drug use and paraphernalia, issues children shouldn’t be uncovered to at our parks,” Austin mentioned.
Elizabeth Carranza drives her daughter to Lincoln Park in downtown Lengthy Seaside. Although there is a playground nearer to her residence, she mentioned it does not really feel protected. “Extra homelessness than something and I really feel that it makes it look a bit soiled, I’d say, and I do not see a variety of children,” Carranza advised CBSLA. The brand new ordinance can be enforced by police and park rangers, and violators might face a misdemeanor cost, however Councilman Austin mentioned officers aren’t trying to rack up citations. “There will likely be signage at each park and each playground to let of us know concerning the ordinance, and once more, that is one thing that might be enforced. We definitely hope it does not should be enforced,” he mentioned.
Mike Siregear, who’s a father, agrees with the brand new legislation, however thinks it might get complicated. “This one can be a little bit bit harder to kinda distinguish your intentions of being right here as a result of this particular one, I see individuals exercise right here, I see individuals play basketball,” he mentioned. The Metropolis of Los Angeles tried to cross an analogous legislation in 2016, nevertheless it was shot down after receiving criticism, a lot of it from the American Civil Liberties Union. After a second vote on Tuesday, the ordinance is anticipated to move to the mayor’s desk the place, if signed, the brand new legislation might go into impact as quickly as subsequent month.
