LA HABRA : Council Rejects Video Arcade Plan

Siding with a group of residents who turned out in protest, the City Council this week denied a permit for a proposed video arcade that opponents said would exacerbate the vandalism, trash and noise from “loitering groups of young people.”

The council voted 4 to 1 to deny a permit to establish the family video arcade in a mini-mall at the northwest corner of La Habra Boulevard and Palm Street. The proposed arcade would have had 40 video games and four pool tables.

The arcade itself “might not cause problems, but make matters worse in the area. Maybe in another location this business could fit, but not there,” Councilman John C. Holmberg said after a 90-minute public hearing attended by more than three dozen opponents who donned bright yellow badges stating their protest.

Susan Delgado, who lives behind the corner shopping center, said a now-vacant storefront proposed for the arcade once housed two mini-markets that had video games, which she said was responsible for noise, trash and graffiti.

“When they went out of business, the loiterers went away,” she said.

Max Normando, a 38-year resident and developer in the city, said three video machines at a 7-Eleven store on one of his properties have created problems over the years, but under provisions in the lease he cannot get the store to remove them.

“When you get young people together, they do create problems,” Normando said. “Video games just mean trouble in La Habra.”

Councilman Juan M. Garcia cast the dissenting vote, agreeing with proponents of the arcade that it can “provide a supervised place that can serve as an outlet for teen-agers’ energy.”