They’ve survived drunken riots and Dennis Rodman. But July 4th was too much for Newport Beach

Newport Beach’s Balboa Peninsula, long infamous as “Zooport,” saw its wild July 4 tradition spiral into chaos this year, with a viral TikTok takeover and more than 400 arrests. Residents say crowds of mostly out-of-towners left them trapped in their homes and shuttering bars early, reigniting anger over what they say is lax enforcement. City leaders now face pressure to revive past holiday crackdowns — from checkpoints to curfews — as Newport wrestles with balancing coastal access, tourism revenue and neighborhood safety. The Balboa Peninsula has a long and sometimes infamous history as a party beach. A generation ago, drunken...