Gimme my In-n-Out!

There is an In-n-Out proposed for Pleasant Hill, bordering Walnut Creek, but at least some in Walnut Creek are opposed:

"We know you [the Walnut Creek City Council] are involved, but we need more from you," said Laura Milstead. She is worried about the possible crime and the kind of late-night crowd it might attract to the area.

One resident was so upset by the thought of an In-N-Out next to her neighborhood that she cried as she pleaded with the council for help.

Seriously? I think you need to calm your asses down. Here are the talking points:

1. It attracts long lines of idling cars that emit exhaust fumes contributing to asthma.

2. It serves noisy crowds that blare car stereos with no regard for whom they irritate.

3. It is a late-night magnet for inebriated young adults who are in need of food to sober up.

4. It distributes wrappers, bags and napkins to patrons who litter neighborhood streets.

To this, I reply:

1. Make sure the restaurant is appropriately situated, sufficiently large, and has the capacity to serve everyone quickly. Add traffic lights or other road measures to keep things moving and it'll pay off soon enough.

2. Call the cops, issue tickets, make arrests, collect fines (money). Disturbing the peace is a crime. Don't make it seem like loud stereos are a new mineral.

3. Call the cops, issue tickets, make arrests, collect fines (money). Public drunkenness and DUI are crimes. At least they're stopped and want to be not-drunk. Beats them plowing through your house while you're asleep.

4. Call the cops, issue tickets, make arrests, collect fines (money). Littering is a crime, and an easy +$1000 for the jurisdiction that gets it.

In short, there is a gap in In-n-Out coverage; look it up, there's a distinct blank in the triangle constituting Walnut Creek-Concord-Martinez. From The Mine, the alternatives are Pinole or San Ramon, so being able to get the In-n-Out fix without traveling at least a dozen miles is most appreciated.

Besides, it's in Pleasant Hill. Walnut Creek, stay out of the way of the grown folks!