Property Part-Owned by Sen. Deddeh Attracts Drug Users, Police Say

State Sen. Wadie P. Deddeh, who has taken strong anti-drug stands and served on legislative committees investigating substance abuse, is one of the landlords of a downtown San Diego market that neighbors and police say sells fortified wines to vagrants and pipe-screen material that is bought by crack cocaine users.

Deddeh (D-Bonita) is one-third owner of a storefront complex on the eastern side of downtown that includes the Valu-Mart market, a small grocery and deli, his economic interest statements show. He has been an owner since 1973.

San Diego police and neighboring merchants say Valu-Mart has become a magnet for criminals and vagrants because it sells high-powered wines such as Cisco, stocks cheap vodka and supplies small screens used in crack cocaine pipes.

“A lot of (the store’s) clientele are the crack users, the heroin users, the alcoholics that are buying the fortified wines,” said Sgt. Jim Arthur, who oversees part of the downtown police beat.

The store’s reputation figured in a recent community meeting held by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert (D-Coronado), who was trying to organize merchants into a “business watch” program to control crime. Alpert promised to approach Deddeh about the problem.

But when interviewed by The Times last week, Deddeh expressed surprise about the complaints and argued that, as landlord, there was nothing he could do.

“I don’t check on my tenants,” he said. “It’s not my job to check on my tenants. You see, tenants are there. If they are in violation of the law, I cannot enforce the law. Somebody else has the power to do that.

“I own one-third of the property. That’s it. End of story.”

Deddeh agreed to talk to the market’s proprietor, Hikmat Mansour of El Cajon, who is also a part-owner, and emphasized that Mansour has not broken any laws.

“You tell me, what law is he violating? . . . Then what’s the problem? What’s the problem?” Deddeh asked.

Deddeh’s hands-off approach to his tenant stands in contrast to his political rhetoric as a lawmaker deeply interested in the social ills of alcohol and drugs. His Senate district includes areas hard-hit by such problems.

Deddeh, who was defeated in a bid for Congress in the Democratic primary June 2, served on a now-defunct Senate committee on substance abuse, which held hearings around the state to collect testimony about alcohol and drug problems. In 1989, Deddeh convened two days of hearings of his Select Senate Committee on Border Issues, Drug Trafficking and Contraband to discuss the growing drug epidemic in the Pacific Islander and Asian-American community.

Cleo Malone, executive director of Palavra Tree Inc., an alcohol recovery and treatment center in San Diego, said he has talked to Deddeh many times about the proliferation of liquor outlets and the sale of fortified wines in the inner city.

The flavored and carbonated beverages are 20% alcohol, compared to 12% for table wines. City officials throughout California, some of whom use zoning restrictions to limit sales of the wine, have asked the Legislature for laws allowing them to further crack down on the beverages.

When Malone asked Deddeh for help in 1990 to fight for legislation banning the wines, the senator commended the activist for his “aggressive effort against the marketing and selling of alcohol in the community.”

“I want you to know that I share your concern and will certainly look into the possibility of legislation to correct this mounting problem, although I must tell you in all honesty, it will be an uphill battle against the wine and liquor industry,” Deddeh wrote to Malone.

Deddeh never introduced any legislation.

Arthur said the store sells small prefabricated pieces of screen that “you stick at the end of a pipe and that way the rock (cocaine) doesn’t fall through. We know what they’re used for but it’s not illegal to sell them.”

Nathan Mansour, the store owner’s son, denied police reports that Valu-Mart sells the screens, although he acknowledged that many cocaine users buy scouring pads there to fashion their own.