Last year, I got myself all worked up into a lather about my neighborhood community council and how I thought they were trying to kill my neighborhood bar. [mb ^[1], mb ^[2]] The horrors! After the initial kerfuffle however, [pi ^[3], stranger ^[4]] the business owners and residents backed to their respective corners and have been mostly silent.

Perhaps both sides were awaiting the results of Nickels’ nightlife ordinance, because even when I attended some meetings this spring (and was totally recognized, despite my formerly bank robber like bio photo) nothing about noise ordinances and good neighbor agreements was raised.

Even Erica C. Barnett noted in her follow-up last month that everything seemed pretty much the same as the summer before [slog ^[5]]. I will note that the Seattle PD has had an increased presence at the beach this year and it may be making the difference. BUT I have had a low grade concern that once summer started that the council would start pointing fingers at businesses again.

Well, I was mostly right. Although most residents have been focused on the Statue of Liberty plaza debacle [wsb ^[6]], a few have been trying to raise rile over The End’s weekend broadcast from the beach [end ^[7]]. In an email to the Yahoo Group subjected: “The End of Serenity” one member lambasted the advertisements which promised to “take over the beach” and got all up in arms that there will be “LIVE MUSIC” and horror or horrors: bbq. OMG HOW DARE THEY? Another local music station KUBE has also been taken to task and some people want to throw in some street vendors for good measure as well, “All these private use on public property without proper permits have to be stopped before it gets out of control.” Oof. I guess, I should just be happy that the radio station complaints seem to be from just a few.

It doesn’t seem like this has escalated into the mess that was last summer, but I would like to know why this has to be an issue every year. How is a radio station broadcast more annoying than the throngs of squalling children that stomp past my house during the pirate invasion or the (sorry, but) totally awful “rock” bands that play at the so-called sanctioned festivals on the beach?

On a semi-related topic, I also have been wondering about why the Seattle Music Festival at Alki Beach [nwa ^[8]] hasn’t happened the last couple of years. Is it fundraising or is it concerns about noise complaints as well?