Countywide : Umberg Will Fight Proposed ABC Cuts

Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove) joined local law enforcement officials Thursday in denouncing plans to lay off a majority of state liquor law enforcement agents this month, saying that fewer agents in Orange County would lead to lax oversight of liquor sales.

Nearly three quarters of the investigators for the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, including 10 of 13 in Orange County, are scheduled to be laid off as part of Gov. Pete Wilson’s plan to close a $14.3-billion state budget deficit. Wilson has proposed cutting ABC’s $23-million annual budget by $4.9 million.

Calling the proposed budget cut “shortsighted and irresponsible,” Umberg said he will introduce a bill to restore the money. “The governor is in for a battle when the Assembly reconvenes in January,” he said.

ABC District Administrator Dale Rasmussen and Police Chiefs Paul Walters of Santa Ana, David Snowden of Costa Mesa and James Cook of Westminster lined up in Santa Ana outside the My Place bar--described by one ABC agent as a “drug supermarket”--to criticize Wilson’s plan. The ABC is trying to revoke the bar’s liquor license and shut it down because, officials say, it has been the site of prostitution, murders and liquor sales to minors over the last four years.

Buena Park Police Chief Richard Tefank said, “The government must stand up on the issue of crime instead of just talking about it.”

ABC officials contend that if the proposed cuts are not stopped, many of their enforcement responsibilities will fall to the already overburdened local police and sheriff’s departments. Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates said he was “tired of getting work passed from the state to cities and not getting money.”

“You better start talking to law enforcement leaders before you make cuts,” he said, referring to Wilson.

Lee James, a Wilson spokesman in Sacramento, defended the governor’s layoff proposal.

“It’s easy to sit by the sidelines and criticize, but by God we’re going to balance this budget,” he said. “If (police) want to vent their proper frustration, it should be at state employees (unions),” James said. Wilson contends that reluctance by state employee union officials to allow a 5% pay cut for members has forced his hand on the layoff decision.

ABC supporters say the agency should be spared cuts because it generates revenue for the state through fines and liquor license applications. For example, the ABC generated more than $10 million more than it spent last fiscal year.