El Monte : Market Can Sell Alcohol
The City Council narrowly approved a permit Tuesday that will allow a local market to sell alcohol despite its proximity to Mountain View Elementary School.
In a 3-2 vote, the council awarded a conditional-use permit to the La Blanquita Market, 11859 Valley Blvd., to enable the business to stock beer and wine.
The permit will require improved security and upgrading of the market’s facilities.
Even with those conditions, council members Patricia Wallach and Dan Morgan said they could not support the permit because the market is within 1,000 feet of Mountain View and police statistics indicate an increase of more than 20% in the area’s crime rate.
Councilman Jack T. Crippen said many vendors in the same area already have similar permits and to deny the request would infringe on the grocer’s business rights.
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