Sunland-Tujunga : Pepperdine Students to Present Crime Study

Graduate students in Pepperdine University’s business school will present tonight the results of a study on the correlation between crime and alcohol outlets in Sunland-Tujunga.

The study, to be presented at a public meeting, echoes some of the findings presented in a groundbreaking report published last year by USC researchers Richard A. Scribner, David P. MacKinnon and James H. Dwyer. The USC report was the first to scientifically examine the relationship between the density of liquor stores and bars and crime rates in the communities they serve.

The Sunland-Tujunga study was performed by the graduate students at the request of the Van Nuys-based community service agency Bridge Focus Inc.

About 60 liquor licenses have been granted for businesses inside the Sunland-Tujunga area, which had a population of 43,066 in 1990, according to census data.

The Pepperdine graduate students examined demographics, 1995 crime statistics provided by the Los Angeles Police Department and the location of alcohol outlets (bars, minimarkets, supermarkets, liquor stores) to create a map illustrating where crime occurs relative to such outlets.

“The greatest overall density--of liquor licenses and crime--is located within two blocks of Foothill Boulevard,” which is the main street through Sunland-Tujunga, said Joanne Wright of Bridge Focus.

At the meeting tonight, Bridge Focus staff will discuss how communities can use state legislation and the city’s conditional-use permit process to question and possibly prevent issuance of additional liquor licenses, Wright said.

The meeting begins at 7:15 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 7747 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga.