HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/9/2024 Item 6a, Cross
From:Brett Cross <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING MUNICIPAL CODE
SECTION 9.22.040 - SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ZONES
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Dear Council Members,
I hope all of you had a great holiday season. As most of you are aware I'm the Residents for Quality Neighborhoods
representative on the Student Community Liaison Committee (SCLC). Actually, this is the second time over the many
years that I've represented RQN on SCLC.
Way back then St. Fratty's day wasn't even a thing yet. And Halloween hadn't yet become the "event" it has become
now. Impacts from parties remain the same though. I guess some things never change.
The impact to residents quality of life from noisy parties, whether student or non student, is serious. Folks are not only
avoiding particular neighborhoods to move into but long time residents are leaving their neighborhood. That should
concern you.
This is most pronounced in the Alta Vista neighborhood and portions of the Monterey Heights neighborhood which are
most impact due to be adjacent to Cal Poly, percentage of student to non student households, and the preponderance of
"Satellite Houses" ( Fraternity and Sorority occupied. There are approximately 2 dozen Satellite Housing in those
neighborhoods which are causing addition issues that need to be addressed.)
There is, and has been, a sense among some students that reminds of the Beastie Boys song-- "You gotta Fight for Your
Right to Party". That's an issue that won't be solved with the Safety Enhancement Zone alone. Changing attitudes
is going to be a long potentially difficult process. Cal Poly will need to be a partner in this effort.
The Safety Enhancement Zone provisions should be looked at as part of the what is needed to create the quality of life
that many other neighborhoods experience that are not directly adjacent to the campus.
We talk a lot about equity. I think it's important to think about the Safety Enhancement Zone as a way of creating equity for
those residents in the Alta Vista and Monterey Heights neighborhoods who's quality of life is constantly being impacted by
noise from partying - especially during St. Fratty's day and "Halloweek" where the entire neighborhood becomes a giant
party zone.
It's going to take more than just extending the Safety Enhancement Zone to St. Fratty's Day and Halloweek. Fines make
a difference but that's not all that will need to be done. A change in attitude from the "we have a right to party", to
restorative justice programs that hold people accountable for the impact from party noise to their neighbors, Chronic Party
House regulations, and the issues with "Satellite Houses" in the R-1 and R-2 zones in the Atla Vista and Monterey
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Heights neighborhoods. And just as important is Cal Poly becoming a true partner in reducing the partying in the
neighborhoods.
Sincerely,
Brett Cross
RQN- SCLC Representative.
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