Further proof that California is insane!

Sonoma grapples with tourist image, alcohol problems

This is beautiful. In the interest of time, I'll show you the highlights. On the one hand:

"At the Plaza, well-heeled tourists stroll hand-in-hand, buying local wines and cheeses. They often enjoy their bounty with a picnic on one of the park benches in the historic square."

And on the other:

"Just a block away at Depot Park, a small group of unemployed residents, mostly men, hangs out drinking out of bottles wrapped in brown paper bags. Residents and business owners nearby say they sometimes get drunk, fight and steal from them."

It only gets better:

"The solution? Attempting to strike a balance, the City Council passed a law that bans drinking in public places - but only between sunset and 11:30 a.m."

Is that standard or daylight savings time? The justifications only get better:

"Some have said we're trying to make homelessness illegal," Ashford said. "I don't want it to be, nor should it be illegal in Sonoma. However, it is illegal to steal people's property and trespass on other people's property.

"It's the behavior the ordinance is aimed at, not at a particular group of people."

Really?

Gurney said many of the people who hang out in the parks are not homeless but choose to live a lifestyle of drug and alcohol abuse. He said they've declined offers of social services assistance.

Wow. I can't imagine some dude drinking a 40 oz. Steel Reserve refusing 'social services assistance' from the police chief of Sonoma. 'But I just want to help you' the kind policeman said. Yeah, right. Wasn't that the premise for the first RAMBO?

"Robert Behrens, who runs a bed and breakfast between the Plaza and Depot Park, has been a victim of thefts he suspects were committed by alcohol-abusing vagrants."

He suspects?!? How about this? I suspect the guy stealing your lawn decorations doesn't care about you or your B&B, regardless of a few beers.

Dear ACLU,

Is this, even in the least possible way, not racist? Or maybe, the wineries could start 'keepin' it real' by brown bagging the juice on its way out the door.