Issue: Limits on Liquor Stores

In the aftermath of the riots, some politicians and activists have discussed limiting the number of liquor stores in their cities and regulating the distance between them.

Should local government regulate the types of businesses being rebuilt in area cities?

Rex Richmond, Owner of the Crown Bowl, Long Beach

I think it’s certainly unfair to generalize and say all liquor stores are bad. Every proprietor is different. If officials didn’t like the operation of a particular liquor store before--(the store) may have sold to minors or for whatever reason--they certainly had every avenue open to them to complain to the state. But legislation by rioting I don’t think is the way to go. It’s not our way of doing business in this country. In some locations, the liquor store could be a viable business. It fills a lot of needs in the community because it may be a local market too. Some of them were check-cashing outlets. We have an on-sale license at the bowling center, which requires that we have a restaurant so you can consume alcoholic beverages. We provide a lot of recreation to people from Compton and Central L.A. and north Long Beach. The riot provides an opportunity to put in nice establishments that have nice showcases where you can get groceries, maybe a wine selection, one of those places with good parking. But I think it’s a way to really let the market decide.

Patricia A. Moore, Compton councilwoman

I definitely asked our council to look into the way in which we rebuild our community, specifically looking at liquor stores and poor-quality businesses that do not improve the quality of life for our citizens and certainly do not allow those who live here to feel proud. According to the law at this time, we cannot impose moratoriums on liquor stores. So, I’ve asked our staff to lobby our Legislature in Sacramento, asking them to come forth with legislation giving cities the ability to regulate the establishment of liquor stores in our communities. This civil unrest targeted businesses that did not speak to positive, economic attributes in our communities. If we go back to doing business as usual, we’re going to be in trouble all over again. We’ve made mistakes. That’s what our citizens have told us. We need to rebuild. If we do that, then the businesses that are going to be supportive of a stable community will come.

E. Thomas Jennings, College Square Neighborhood , Assn. president

The liquor store itself is not an ill. It’s simply that these areas are frequented by youth with idle time and by prostitutes. It is a gathering place of homeless people. I think it is the duty of politicians that are elected by the public to work on behalf of the public good. I think the word rebuild is only to say we are going to create what was in the place before. Now is the time for building. There should be some new thinking taking place. In certain communities, there is an overabundance of liquor stores. I’d like to see a regulation limiting the number of licenses issued for certain geographic areas. I would only look to aid the public with more service-oriented types of businesses, services which would provide assistance to the elderly, to the blind, to the handicapped. We always need more bookstores, places of information. We also do need the convenience stores in our neighborhood. It should at least be discussed. At this point, we’re speaking of the safety of individuals.

Dick Gaylord, President, Long Beach Board of Realtors

I feel it is essentially wrong and unfair that business people would find themselves with less opportunity after suffering the effects of riots and disorder. If they were operating before the riots, their reapplications for building permits should not be handled differently because they were looted. It’s morally and ethically wrong to gain at their expense. Even though there may be some merit to the overall concept, this is no time to raise the issue. If there is to be a reduction of liquor stores, it mustn’t be a reduction of the people who suffered. Later, after everyone has an opportunity to be made whole again, new forms might be adopted which would relate to the need or demand or the distances apart between the buildings. But I’m opposed to anything like regulating in the aftermath of the losses.