So, I was perusing the Slog just now and found an interesting little piece [slog] by Tom Francis in regards to the Alki Community Council [alkinews] meeting last night. I rarely pay attention to the council because, well, the ins and outs of whether or not a hotel should be on the beach don’t usually concern me. However, it turns out that I missed participating in a meeting last night that could affect me greatly. You see, one of the main agenda items was “How do we take our neighborhood back from unruly revelers?” It seems that some of the residents of Alki are concerned about the loud partying that occurs at the beach and the fall out that usually happens on their lawns and other property.

While I understand their concern - I, too, have been annoyed by the loud cars bumping through my neighborhood during the summer and can appreciate not wanting people peeing on my lawn - it seems to me their focusing their blame on the wrong people. From the Slog:

“What Ogden and the rest of the council like about the neighborhood — the scenic views of the Sound and Seattle, the long flat beach, the leisurely pace — is exactly what makes it ideal for the nightclubs that have gathered in increasing numbers along Alki Avenue SW.” [slog]

This is pure crazy talk. I live on Alki Avenue and this “increasing number” of “nightclubs” consists of two bars: the Bamboo Grill and the Celtic Swell. Both are a restaurant and bar combination, and while they both do have live music, it is usually low key. I mean, how rowdy does an Irish Session or lone folk singer get? Francis cites the Swell as being “the most flagrant offender” but maybe that has something to do with it being located directly below an apartment building as opposed to really being a producer of “unruly revelers.” I mean, we’ve all had that kind of neighbor before, right?

In any case, if one was to really survey the Alki Beach scene, you’d notice a strange phenomena. During the winter, it’s not loud at all. In fact, despite the two bars being open for business until 2 a.m. this whole winter, there haven’t been one million people cruising up and down the boulevard, there haven’t been huge crowds of people milling about making noise, and there aren’t loud drunken arguments right outside my window every night. However, once spring arrives and increasingly throughout the summer, there will be all those things and more. Loud thumping bass driving around at all hours. Groups of people smoking pot on the street corner. Families crowding up every restaurant (or bar) that I might want to walk to. And then, every night as soon as the park closes (11 p.m.) everyone goes away, even though the two bars are still open. Hmmm.

It doesn’t take a genius to see that the two (yes, two!) bars have not created the supply of people, they are merely taking advantage of it. I mean, there are plenty of more accessible bars for people to go to in Seattle, and plenty of better quality restaurants in town that don’t have to mark up their prices because their rents are so high (being on the beach and all). No, people come to Alki because of the one thing Alki has that other neighborhoods don’t, the beach.

Now, I’m not suggesting we ban non-Alki residents from the beach. I’m just saying that if you really want to address the problem, perhaps you should really look at the problem instead of flailing about dramatically. I mean, last summer there were flyers in the Alki News announcing a march to take back the streets from the Russian Gangs that were taking over the beach. Seriously. Russian Gangs. And now all of a sudden it’s two of the very few successful businesses on the block? Yeah, try again.

How about this: instead of fighting with the one institution I frequent on the beach, you use that power for good and get us a damn market.

Related posts:

1. Alki residents unite
2. Alki meeting tonight
3. West Seattle Gossip: Alki Market
4. Alki News: I don’t want to stand corrected
5. Alki drama season opens tomorrow