happybooker1

Just heard about the new city council ordanances they're trying to pass for the Comal River in New Braunfels.
http://www.kwtx.com/news/headlines/5289706.html

Turn Key

Well, I have no real issue with the life jacket rule for the kiddos. Seems to fit with all other boating rules. As far as the rest goes, I see it as a way to attempt to control people who are already out of control. Ends up doing nothing but making life tough for those who are out trying to have a good time. As usual, the morons among us will force the cities to impose stricter rules because some just can't control themselves. (Rant, off).

Happy Camping!

__________________

DanInSA

At first I was a little ticked, because I used to be one of the "rowdies", although never to the point that a lot of people on the river get. Now I am thinking the rules are pretty good, if they make sure the cooler size can fit a 6 pack of water bottles, not just cans.

These rules also only apply to the river past Gruene, the river upstream of that is still the same rules, hopefully dividing Guadalupe into a party river for the college and young crowd and a easy going fun river for everyone else. Not sure if it should ever have kids on it in tubes though, so I wouldn't go as far as saying it is family friendly, just too dangerous.

aggiehiker92

Hopefully this will curb the amount of aluminum on the bottom of the river, also. It's a shame that such a pretty river has a metal bottom.

__________________
"Badges?!? We don't need no stinking badges!!"

01ACRViper

being from New Braunfels and knowing Ken Valentine and his tyrannical hatred of college aged people, I don't agree with a lot of what he says. add to that the fact his living on the river might have a bit to do with his fevered attempts to "purify" it of the people that fill the city's coffers with money, he is going a bit over the edge. limiting cooler sizes isn't going to stop people from drinking. people are just going to fill 6 water bottles with liquor and get drunk that way. there will always be the people that don't want drinking on the river, and there will always be the people that want to drink on the river. the one good thing I see about limiting the amount of cans is that hopefully it will keep most of the cans off the bottom of the river. i did river clean ups from kindergarten though high school with boy scouts, and every fall we would fill canoes to the brim with cans. not a good thing. in the summers when i lifeguarded at the Tube Chute on the Comal, on some of my breaks i would get my goggles and dive around picking up broken glass and other trash. it disgusts me how dirty that river is. that being said, people are still going to come, and people are still going to trash it. by law, you can't ban alcohol on the river because it's public property. thats why they haven't been able to stop it yet and thats why they can't do anything about the guadalupe. you CAN however limit it on all the banks, including put ins and take outs, and restrict tubing companies renting coolers. The city is only looking out for making money, not for people having a good time on vacation. they only want families who will rent hotel rooms so we can reap teh benefits of an outrageous hotel tax. they don't want college kids looking to have fun that will only be driving down for the day. no way to tax them. well besides the $1 per tube tax, and the shuttle tax, and the beer taxes.....


sorry for the rant, i don't like Mr. Valentine. he's only in office now because the person who took over after the last election resigned to do a fiscal scandal

DanInSA

Viper,
I do get the feeling that they are biting the hand that feeds them when they try to restrict river partying, but on the other hand, those that live on the river must get tired of the constant noise, and trash, and occasional lewdness that floats by their property most of the summer. Nice to have someone's opinion that lives in NB, I always thought they hated river tourists.