Save Newport Real News in Newport Beach
As everyone knows, since the beginning of this year we have been seeing the “surge of the scourge” (say that three times fast!), seeing a massive increase in our “street population” and troublemakers that come along with that. Our local business owners are fighting back.
After numerous reports of trouble with “Sarge”, his trashpile was removed from the 23rd St. parking lot, he pledged to make “the biggest shitstorm that Newport has ever seen”, but our law enforcement officers have been all over him, arresting him at least four times last month alone. Sadly, he still has not left, and a few weeks ago began hanging out and causing trouble in the McFadden Square area instead, making life difficult for our tourists, our locals, and our merchants. He’s stalked local establishment employees and assaulted, scammed, or robbed countless amounts of people.
Once, while the establishment was closed to the public, Sarge attempted to kick in the doors to one of Newport’s most historic watering holes, Blackies. When the property owners heard that Sarge was assaulting their tenants, they immediately took action to protect the tenants.
Sarge now has a restraining order not just from Blackies– but from the entire building which contains PJ’s Surf Shop, Blackies, Beachball, the donut shop (you know you love those “Lava Croissants”!), The District, Banzai Bowl, Blue Beet, Original Pizza, Dori Deli, and several swim shops and bicycle places. The restraining order also covers 30 feet from the Malarky’s building, and he has been trespassed from Woody’s Wharf, as well.
I spoke with some lawyer friends and they said that getting a restraining order is neither cheap nor speedy, proving even more that this is a great example of our business owners going above and beyond to better our community. A big thank-you for our local bars, restaurants, and building owners for really stepping up to the plate to help clean up Balboa Peninsula!
