Residents of Armona came out in a group Wednesday to demand community leaders ban alcohol use in the community park, voicing concerns that drunken elements can make it uncomfortable for parents to take their children there. But that wasn't enough to persuade the reluctant Armona Community Service District board to adopt such a rule.

The board did take the time to listen to concerns and discuss the issue during Wednesday's meeting, but it unanimously agreed to keep things the way they are for now.

Board members said they had never heard of any problem associated with alcohol at the park and questioned how real the concern was.

Cmdr. Don Deeds with the Kings County Sheriff's Office said he did not have statistics regarding the issue.

But based on his experience, Deeds said, alcohol use at the park has not been an alarming issue to the department.

Manuel Toledo, a community organizer from Hanford, said drinking at the park was among the top concerns expressed by residents during a recent forum and that the residents are asking for a pre-emptive measure against blight, speaking on behalf of some 15 people, mostly Hispanic. People want the family atmosphere to be protected, he said.

"We're not saying people are committing a crime because they are drinking in the park; we're saying that drinking has no place in public," Toledo said. "It's a proactive way of preventing bad things from happening. Our families don't feel comfortable going into the park because there are certain elements drinking out there and it's intimidating."

Deeds said there are laws currently in place the agency could enforce to prevent public intoxication that would endanger or offend others. It would be up to the district to enact any ordinance to specifically ban such behavior and impose any penalty, and the department would enforce it, he said.

Apparently, the issue is not new to Armona.

According to Ed Bittner, chair of the district board, the same concern was raised by the community seven years ago. The board decided then not to restrict drinking in the park, he said.

Mike Watson, a board member, was concerned such a restriction would cause inconvenience to any celebratory occasion at the park, such as a family get-together or a wedding reception.

Board member Sal Gutierrez said the district would open up a can of worms by trying to figure out when alcohol use is permitted and when it isn't, if it were to enact an ordinance.

At Gutierrez's motion, all four members agreed to leave things the way they are.

"When we get information that it is in fact a problem, we'll listen to you then," Gutierrez told the group of residents.

At least one of the residents who showed up agreed to speak.

Gloria Michel, an Armona resident of eight years, said the problem is real to her.

"We've seen people drinking, but they don't want to do anything to help us," said Michel, a young mother of a baby. "I feel they're discriminating (against) us. There are people drinking there in broad daylight, and we don't feel comfortable."

Toledo vowed to continue advocating for the change on behalf of the group of residents he represents.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(June 13, 2008)