Crime and Alcohol in Communities

In a free society that allows alcohol to become a way of life comes with a price for communities and crime that can spiral out of control.

Recently, the Huntington Beach Downtown Residents Association presented a 24 page report to the Huntington Beach City Council regarding alcohol and public safety matters in Downtown Huntington Beach.

Here are some alarming statistics for Huntington Beach:

1) 306% more off-sales alcohol per capita than Orange County.

2) 776% more on-sales alcohol per capita than Orange County.

Obviously, there is a problem.

Let's shift to Fullerton. The highest concentration of bars are situated in Downtown Fullerton along Harbor Blvd and Commonwealth Ave.

According to the ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control) from the State of California statistics for the City of Fullerton are as follows:

Zip Code: 92831 41: Active On-Sale Retail Licenses 35: Active Off-Sale Retail Licenses
Zip Code: 92832 77: Active On-Sale Retail Licenses 27: Active Off-Sale Retail Licenses
Zip Code: 92835 15: Active On-Sale Retail Licenses 16: Active Off-Sale Retail Licenses

There are a grand total of outstanding 211 licenses has been issued by the ABC to various retail establishments in Fullerton that averages for every 597 residents makes up for one retail unit that sells alcohol.

A free society comes with responsibilities to ensure a peaceful communities without anarchy and violence that could become a burden to municipal resources (i.e., police, public safety, etc.)

Communities like Huntington Beach and Fullerton needs to examine the policies regarding the concentration of on-sale and off-sale retailers that sell liquor.

GRAPHIC WARNING - Rally and Protest at the Fullerton Police Department

The Fullerton Sentinel will be at the Fullerton Policed Department to show support for Kelly Thomas's family and express outrage over the lack of leadership within our city.

Please join us Saturday, July 30 · 9:00am - 3:00pm at 237 W Commonwealth Ave. (corner of Highland and Commonwealth).  There is plenty of public parking behind City Hall and the library.

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On July 5th, 2011 Kelly Thomas was brutally beaten into a coma by six Fullerton Police officers. He never regained consciousness.


After several days in intensive care, his family was forced to make the awful decision to remove him from life support and he passed away.

Since that day, the Fullerton Police Department, Chief of Police Michael Sellers, Fullerton City Mayor Dick Jones, Council Members Don Bankhead and Pat McKinley, and... FPD spokesperson Andrew Goodrich have made every attempt to sweep this whole event under the rug. From stonewalling those who ask legitimate questions, releasing false and misleading information to the public, sensationalizing and exaggerating Kelly's demeanor and severity of mental illness, to refusing to make public statements, these elected officials have done nothing but harm to the citizens who ask only for justice for those responsible.

We as citizens have a duty to stand up for those who have been wronged when those we've entrusted to protect and serve us fall so short. The people of Fullerton must unite together and let our elected (and hired) officials know that this will not stand.

I invite you all - your friends, families, neighbors, acquaintances, dogs, cats, and anyone else wishing to stand up for what is right to join us again this Saturday, July 30th for another peaceful protest outside of FPD to let them know we will not let up until those responsible are brought to justice.


Again, this will be a peaceful protest. Bring signs, paint, chairs, snacks, but most importantly, bring yourselves.

Andy Anderson