1968: Aroused Citizens Complain About the Hippies and Their Pan-Handling, Sex, and Drugs

Scene from the “1968 Labor Day Riot” on Longbranch Avenue. Police had declared the street off-limits, so people took to porches and rooftops.

Editor: The following hilarious article is lifted word for word right out of the July 1968 issue of the San Diego Free Press, and it is not satire nor tongue-in-cheek. This article shows that since 1968, OB merchants and the well-heeled citizens of the area have been complaining about the hippies, their pan-handling, their sex, their drugs and graffiti.   The so-called “Peninsula Aroused Citizens” was a real group. Also, the Inbetween is mentioned and discussed – it sat right on the last block of Newport Avenue.  Have yourself a good laugh – and a history lesson.

Image of the article “O. B. “Citizens” Aroused from the original San Diego Free Press

O. B. “Citizens” Aroused

The solid citizenry of Ocean Beach are aroused. For some time now, there has been a virtual state of war existing between businessmen and merchants, on the one hand, and hippies on the other. The growing hippie community in OB has been met with growing alarm on the part of the established citizenry.

Those with Establishment interests want to drive the hippies out of OB since they view them as a treat to their businesses and are offended by the mores and folkways of the youth culture. Hippies contribute very little economically to established businesses and tend to scare away more conventional people who would have patronized these businesses. Hippies have been refused service at several places of business and in turn have taken revenge through acts of vandalism and theft. Because of this, insurance companies have raised the rates charged to OB businessmen.

Recently, there have been several public acts of sexual intercourse including screwing on the front lawn (an all-time first in San Diego according to some sources) which established citizens feel set a bad example for their own families.

The panhandling scene flourishes in OB, and businessmen are chagrined when they are hit up for spare change which is not spent in local businesses. They are also sometimes vexed at the epithets hurled at them when they refuse a panhandler’s request.

There is a large drug scene in OB which mortifies established citizens immensely since they do not was their own offspring influenced to such wiles and temptations.

A group calling themselves the Peninsula Aroused Citizens went to the City Council last week to demand better law enforcement on Ocean Beach. This group, composed primarily of the merchants and businessmen who for over a year have been waging a relentless was with the hippies, is intent on driving them out of San Diego. They contend that the majority of hippies are from out of town (which is probably true of a majority of San Diegans) and have come to San Diego as a result of the heat at beaches up north. Their plan is to kindle the heat to the hippies’ boiling point here so that they will evaporate leaving OB clean and pure and sterilized – once again fit for the enjoyment of decent folk.

One of the strategic focal points in the campaign is a place called the In-Between. The reader should not be mislead into thinking that the In-Between is a demilitarized zone; quit the contrary. Located on Newport Avenue, the In-Between is a youth hangout brought into existence by the Point Loma Methodist Church. At the present time there are also a number of other churches involved in sponsoring it. The In-Between has a reputation for helping people with drug problems without busting them. Mainly because it is church sponsored, the heat has stayed out of the In-Between. The Peninsula Aroused Citizen’s view it as a den of iniquity and a sanctuary for fornicators, dope peddlers, and revolutionaries of all stripes and colors. They wring their hands over the alleged fact that churches are supporting such shenanigans.

According to informed sources, the San Diego police feel their hands are tied in “combating crime” at the In-Between because  the place is church-sponsored. The police cannot afford to lose their considerable prestige by placing themselves in the position of attacking a church. The Aroused Citizens are trying to get the churches to pull out their support so that the police can move in with good conscience and a free hand and clear all those filthy hippies out of there. It is generally acknowledged by the SDPD that they would like to see the In-Between closed.

In a recent move to quell dissent, the In-Between closed for a paint job to take all “those dirty graffiti” off the walls and make other minor repairs to make the place look more respectable for the water inspector, the health inspector, the fire inspector, the building inspector, etc., etc.

According to informed sources, the Aroused Citizens are not only aroused but dedicated and well-heeled. It seems as if they have blitzed the hippies with their spring offensive putting the hippies on the defensive.

Meanwhile, the police are opening a Community Relations Office in OB.