The Balboa Peninsula is one of Newport Beach’s most visited areas, especially during summer weekends, holiday weekends, and major events like the Fourth of July. But for the residents, families, homeowners, and local businesses who live and work here, the Peninsula is more than a destination — it is our home.

Recent Fourth of July activity raised serious safety concerns for many in the community. Residents witnessed vandalism, illegal fireworks, damage to local businesses, broken windows, trees and signs being ripped out, crowd control issues, and dangerous behavior directed toward law enforcement. Many residents also experienced major access issues, including being unable to return to or leave their own homes during enforcement efforts.

These problems are not new. Over the past several years, many Peninsula residents have felt that holiday-related disorder, overcrowding, and public safety issues have progressively gotten worse.

We are asking the City of Newport Beach to formally study and consider establishing a Newport Beach Police Department substation on or near the Balboa Peninsula.

A Peninsula police substation could provide a stronger local law enforcement presence, faster response times, better support for officers, improved protection for local businesses, and a dedicated staging point during holidays, summer weekends, and emergencies.

This petition is not a criticism of the Newport Beach Police Department. We appreciate the officers who serve our community, especially during difficult and high-risk holiday weekends. Our request is simple: give our officers, residents, and businesses the local support and infrastructure needed to better manage the Peninsula’s unique public safety challenges.

The City is already evaluating plans for a new police headquarters, but a headquarters located away from the Peninsula does not fully address the needs of Balboa Peninsula, West Newport, McFadden Square, Newport Pier, Balboa Village, the boardwalk, and the surrounding residential neighborhoods.

As a third-generation Newport Beach resident whose family has called this community home since the early 1930s, I believe this issue deserves serious attention. The Balboa Peninsula is not just a place people visit. It is a neighborhood, a business district, and home to generations of Newport Beach families.

We respectfully ask the City of Newport Beach to:

1. Place the concept of a Balboa Peninsula police substation on a City Council agenda for public discussion.
2. Direct City staff and the Newport Beach Police Department to study potential locations, costs, staffing models, and operational benefits.
3. Include Peninsula residents, local business owners, and neighborhood associations in the discussion.
   Consider seasonal, part-time, or full-time substation options based on public safety needs.
4. Evaluate how a Peninsula substation could support holiday enforcement, emergency response, crowd control, resident access, and protection of local businesses.

Please sign this petition to ask the City of Newport Beach to formally study and consider establishing a police substation on or near the Balboa Peninsula.

The residents, businesses, families, and first responders of Newport Beach deserve a proactive, local, and practical public safety solution.