Emails sent through to South OC Cars And Coffee “comments or Concerns” on website.
From: Chassidy J
Date: January 31, 2023 at 12:58:35 AM GMT+1
Subject: Questions or concerns
Hi- I see right front and center of your site no revving and burnouts. I live nearby and the level of disrespect on this issue the last couple of weekends has been next level. First step- drop u a friendly line. Next- getting police, CHP, the City, outlets involved. I didn’t ask for this event in my backyard.
Response – following email:
Thanks for your email, Chassidy.
If you could please provide details on the offending vehicles (make, model, color, registration) or photographs we will call them out on social media and ban them from attending the event in future.
We take the behavior of our attendees extremely seriously, and work closely with the Outlets, the city and the sheriff to ensure compliance.
If you have any suggestions or questions, we would be happy to sit down and discuss with you further.
Kind regards
Simon Wehr - Co-founder - South OC Cars and Coffee
Then sent follow up email:
Hello Chassidy,
Just following up on my earlier email to make sure you got it.
Kind regards
Then received reply:
Maybe you sent a message but the first couple weeks after I reached out or somewhat quieter, then the storm. Today is pretty bad. Rather than asking me to put in an effort, how about you take the initiative for your own event and start documenting offenders.
Then we sent this reply:
Hello Chassidy,
I didn't ask you to put in effort, I simply asked that if you ever see offenders in the act, you send us the details so we can act on it.
Re your comment "how about you take the initiative for your own event and start documenting offenders" ... I can assure you; we do that.
We have up to 40 volunteers rostered throughout the outlet and on exit roads, all wearing high-vis vests and with 2-way radios. When we catch anyone breaking our rules, we ban them from the event and name and shame them on social media.
We also monitor social media after the event for any posts showing antisocial behavior. In fact, in the case of last weekend, we found an offender (who I suspect was the person that was causing the noise you were referring to). We have identified them, personally contacted them advising them that they are now banned from the event permanently and will be prosecuted for trespassing if they return. We also advised them that we have forwarded their details to the sheriff (which we have done).
We pride ourselves in being a free community event, which brings joy to thousands of people or all ages. And it's not just car lovers ... South OC Cars and Coffee has become a weekly gathering and social pilgrimage for friends and families alike - sometimes across three generations. It brings hundreds of thousands of revenue dollars to the city each year and creates dozens of jobs for locals; and not just for The Outlets - All of which has been recognized by the City. It has put San Clemente on the map globally, with three different television shows being shot at the show, including "The World According To Jeff Goldblum." on Disney Plus. Even the local Sheriff Department supports the event and has said publicly that it is highly organized and that they have far more issues each week at local bars, restaurants, and even children's sporting events.
That being said, we acknowledge your concerns, and take them seriously ... We would welcome the opportunity to buy you a cup of coffee and to sit down and discuss them further.
Do you have any time this week?
Regards - Simon Wehr
No reply from this email.
From: Kathryn C
Date: September 23, 2023 at 11:27:06 AM PDT
Subject: I was stuck ion traffic for an hour waiting to charge my car Response – This was an unusual event (first viewing of Red Bull F1 car) – with a larger number of attendees than expected. We learned from this and started placing volunteers in the underground parking lot to direct traffic to and from the charging stations. For future large events, we recommended via social media that spectators to our show carpool or uber to the event. This resolved future issues.
Name: Shana S
Date: September 24, 2023 at 11:13:56 AM PDT
Subject: I'd like to report a concern
I've noticed the last two cars and coffee have brought a ton of cars into our neighborhood. People are parking in our neighborhood and walking over. You need to have someone monitor this! It was so bad this weekend. Please get this under control.
Response – Created “Residents Only” sign, placed volunteer at entrance, and still announce on every live feed, not to enter Sea Summit. Note- this was also the large F1 event mentioned above – we also instruct people not to park in local neighborhoods on social media.
Name: Mike R
Date: December 23, 2023 at 6:58:59 PM PST
Subject: Traffic control
This past Cars and coffee 12/23 your traffic control people were preventing visitors leaving the parking garage from making a u-turn and were funneling everyone into the same line with the supercars, causing traffic to back up in all directions. Please re-examine this strategy of blocking exists. The goal should be to allow everyone to safely exit quickly, not cause more traffic.
Response – This was part of the CUP directive to reduce noise and traffic for residents of Sea Summit. We discussed in team meeting, and decided that we would allow regular Outlets customers (determined by regular car), or Tesla drivers leaving from charge point to do U-Turn to leave.
From: Pamela R
Date: February 11, 2024 at 2:39:11 PM PST
Subject: Yesterday
Hi - I was traveling North on the I-5 and at about 10:40 AM yesterday a group of extremely loud, fast and reckless Ferraris, Lamborghinis and motorcycles got on the highway at Vista Heromsa.
It startled and frightened me and most likely other drivers. They zipped around, tailgated and cut off other cars, as we tried to quickly move out of their way amid the ROAR of their collective engines. It's a miracle we didn't collide with each other trying to get out their way.
It's easy to see how a young or inexperienced driver could panic in the craziness and noise, and die in an accident.
As it stands, your event is a welcome part of this community. However, this could end if your members cause havoc on the highways. I am a San Clemente resident and I ask that you take affirmative steps to make sure your members don't cause havoc and mayhem on the surrounding roads.
Steps you can take include:
-positioning someone at the exits and not allowing groups of race car drivers and/or motorcyclists to leave at the same time. -giving them fliers and demanding they drive slowly and not grouped with others because of the noise and driving in groups seems to lead to this immature and dangerous behavior.
I realize this is hard to enforce. However, if your wife and child or grandmother was startled and then forced to drive dangerously to try to quickly get out of the way of these cars - you could understand the seriousness of this.
OC cars and coffee is fantastic and many residents (including myself) are proud to host this interesting event. But something must be done before something terrible happens.
Thank you for your serious attention to this matter.
Pamela R - San Clemente resident
Response – spoke about concern on weekly live feed, told attendees to be respectful and follow rules, positioned volunteers at exit and by Chik Fil A, discussed in team meeting.
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