SARASOTA – There are new developments in the ongoing case of the Siesta Key jogger who was killed last month by an accused drunk driver. Donna Chen's family says the sale and promotion of alcohol on the beach is a major reason why the practice continues, and they want it stopped.
ABC 7 News received a letter from the Chen family. The first part details what happened the day Donna Chen was killed, the second part alleges a money trail between the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce and the Sarasota County government. The family says those two entities promote the sale and use of alcohol on the beach because of the revenue it generates, and they say they'll continue to work to get alcohol banned on Siesta Key Beach.
In the letter, Donna's parents claim "there appears to be a money line from the Siesta Key chamber and local government, allowing the promotion of alcohol at certain public venues, which take place on the beach."
"I would suppose the money line would be in reference to alcoholic beverages being served at events the chamber is involved with at the public beach," says Kevin Cooper of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce. "I would assume the two most notable off the top of my head would be the Crystal Classic and the Fourth of July fireworks celebration."
Cooper says it’s no secret alcohol is sold at the beach concession stand daily, nor that several big-name events are sponsored by alcoholic beverage companies. "While the events that we host do involve the sale of alcohol, like I said, they're not focused on that. Intoxication isn't the goal of the event. The events are a way to showcase our beaches and be involved with the community."
Sarasota County Commission chairwoman Christine Robinson wouldn't comment on the issue, saying she hadn't seen the Chen's letter.
Cooper is quick to point out that the focus of beach events isn't the alcohol itself. “There’s probably a big difference between what we do and what led to the tragedy. And I think it's important to understand the difference between the two, especially when it comes down to whether or not the county's receiving money."
Chen was killed January 7th
while jogging along Midnight Pass Road. Investigators say she was struck by a car driven by Blake Talman, who was drunk and had
recently had a run-in with police at Siesta Key public beach.
Cooper doesn't believe the county receives money directly from the sale of alcohol, but rather from the permits that are required for specialty events. "We do pay permitting fees to be out there on the beach for the Crystal Classic, but the sale of alcohol itself, I don't think there's an agreement in place where the county gets a cut of it or a percentage of sales. But they do charge us to be on the beach."
The Chens are
still working on gathering signatures, which they plan on presenting to the county commissioners in the near future. The goal there is to show the county how many people support a total alcohol ban there. They say they have more than 1,000 signatures.
Both Manatee County and Longboat Key currently do not allow alcohol on beaches, but Charlotte County does.
