CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

CdM Residents — Including Councilwoman — Say Aggressive Solicitors Are Back

From Irvine Terrace to Shore Cliffs and on the Flower Streets in between, aggressive solicitors have returned in the past week or two, hassling residents even if they have “No Solicitors” signs on their homes.

Councilwoman Nancy Gardner told board members today at the Corona del Mar Residents Association meeting that a solicitor recently rang her bell and wouldn’t leave even after she said she wasn’t interested.

“He kept going, and I said, ‘I’m not interested’ and he kept going,” Gardner said. After he made a rude gesture and stalked off, Gardner called the police non-emergency number. “This guy is really aggressive,” she said.

Several months ago, Gardner had asked the city attorney to research whether solicitors could be banned after dark. The existing city ordinance permits them to go door-to-door until 9 p.m.; banning them outright won’t work because of free speech concerns. But the city attorney’s office is short-staffed, and the issue had been on the back burner. Gardner said she sent an email, asking for it to become a priority.

Another board member said his wife had been treated rudely by solicitors recently in the Irvine Terrace neighborhood. And several Shore Cliffs residents said they’ve called police in the past week because of rude, aggressive solicitors who ignored their “No Solicitors” signs. According to the law, if you have such a sign, no one should bother you.