July 4 Update and Request for Information
Data released so far increasingly indicate illegal behavior was triggered by youth and young adults following viral social media posts, not STRs guests, as the culprits in July 4th disturbances.
Newport Beach officials are still reviewing the serious disorder that occurred on the Balboa Peninsula over the Fourth of July holiday. NBSTRA is on communication with City officials and awaiting their review.
At the same time, recent statements from the City and Newport Beach Police Department, along with additional news rorting, increasingly point to viral social media posts, a sudden influx of juveniles and young adults, illegal fireworks, and unruly crowd activity near the Newport Pier as major drivers of the incident — not any demonstrated widespread pattern of short-term rental guests causing the disorder.
The City’s July 6 statement said that social media posts drew a large influx of juveniles and young adults to the Newport Pier area within a short period of time. The City reported that the crowd blocked roadways, restricted emergency access, and threw fireworks, explosive mortars, and other projectiles at officers and into crowded areas. The City also reported 402 arrests from midnight on July 3 through 6 a.m. on July 5, including approximately 200 people who remained near 28th Street after refusing lawful dispersal orders.
The Los Angeles Times similarly reported that Newport Beach police saw increased unruly behavior after an influx of people drawn by social media posts. The Times reported that the beach was crowded but peaceful earlier in the day, with conditions deteriorating after sunset as masses of young people, many ages 15 to 25, packed the area around the Newport Pier. The Times also reported that most of those arrested did not live in Newport Beach.
Additional reporting from the Orange County Register, citing data provided by the Newport Beach Police Department, further supports the need for a fact-based review. According to the Register, officers detained, cited, or arrested 353 people directly involved in the July 4 disorder. Of those, only 10 were Newport Beach residents. The group was largely split between California and Arizona residents, with those cited or arrested ranging in age from 13 to 39. The Register also reported that the Newport Beach Police Association attributed the trouble to social media activity, describing it as an alleged “TikTok Takeover.”
Source: Orange County Register
This information does not prove that no short-term rental guest was involved. But the information released so far — including reports that the most serious disorder developed after people began arriving late in the day in response to social media activity — is consistent with the disturbances being primarily driven by young people seeing a social media post to “take over Newport” and rushing down, noit families and visitors staying in licensed short-term rentals booked well in advance for the Fourth of July holiday.
Our position remains clear. Newport Beach should respond to what happened with facts, enforcement, and accountability, not assumptions. Responsible short-term rental owners, managers, and guests should not be unfairly scapegoated for a large public-safety incident unless the data supports that conclusion.
If the City’s review ultimately shows that verified short-term rental guests were a meaningful part of the problem, NBSTRA is prepared to work constructively with the City on targeted, evidence-based solutions. That does not appear to be the case. But any response should be based on what actually happened: who was involved, where they came from, when they arrived, where the incidents occurred, and whether those involved were day visitors, residents, hotel guests, short-term rental guests, students, minors, young adults, or others.
We Need Your Help with More Data
To help us better understand what actually happened, NBSTRA is asking Newport Beach short-term rental owners and managers to share their Fourth of July experiences with us this week.
Please email us at info@nbstra.com with any relevant details, including:
Did you have any problems at your properties this weekend, either with guests or just near your rentals?
Did you see any indication that your guests participated in the unlawful activity on the Peninsula?
Did your property receive a Loud and Unruly Gathering Ordinance (LUGO) citation, a Disturbance Advisory Card (DAC), or even a parking citation, a trash citation, or any other City enforcement notice?
Were police, code enforcement, or the short-term lodging hotline involved with your property?
Did your guests call for help, report problems, or become affected by the crowds, traffic closures, beach closures, or police activity?
Did you have no problems at all and a normal, responsible holiday stay?
Please include the basic facts, the date and approximate time, the general location of the property, whether the property is self-managed or professionally managed, the booking platform used if relevant, and any citation number or City communication you received. NBSTRA will keep member stories anonymous unless we receive explicit permission to share identifying details.
This information will help inform our future discussions with the City. We expect the July 4 incidents to be a major discussion item at next week’s City Council meeting, and NBSTRA wants to make sure responsible owners and managers have a factual voice in that conversation.
Our goal is straightforward: prevent short-term rentals from being unfairly blamed for problems they did not cause, while also identifying any verified STR-related issues where responsible owners and managers can help the City improve communication, compliance, and prevention before future holiday weekends.
Newport Beach deserves a serious, fact-based response to what happened on July 4. NBSTRA will continue working to support public safety, responsible ownership, good guests, and policies that focus on the actual sources of the problem.