Hawaii of California’s recommendation for liquor shop licenses is certainly one for each 2,500 residents.

“They saturated south Fresno with alcohol shops to the stage that alcohol shops and convenience stores need to offer liquor at a less expensive price than they offer water in bottles. At this time, i possibly could head into Wayne’s Liquor and purchase a 40-ounce of malt liquor for 89 cents while a 12-ounce bottle of water would price me personally $1.30 or $1.25. ” — Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias

In Fresno, it is one liquor permit for each and every 1,000 residents.

And, in south Fresno, it is one per 300 residents.

“once you drive across the street in south Fresno, there’s an alcohol shop for each corner of a intersection, ” claims Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias.

In response, Arias is proposing a more powerful liquor-license ordinance compared to the one passed away last 12 months by the council.

Their objective: Turn the tide and offer a more equitable solution for the whole town.

Alcohol Shop Proliferation

“For years, Fresno leaders justified saturating south Fresno with liquor shops underneath the guise of work creation, ” Arias claims.

“They saturated south Fresno with alcohol shops to the level that alcohol shops and convenience shops have to offer liquor at a less expensive price than they offer water in bottles. At this time, i possibly could head into Wayne’s Liquor and purchase a 40-ounce of malt liquor for 89 cents while a bottle that is 12-ounce of would price me personally $1.30 or $1.25. ”

More over, Arias claims, the large number of alcohol shops causes it to be extremely hard to attract full-service grocery stores to south Fresno.

“The areas by which they run, and additionally they turn into a magnet for criminal activity, a magnet for needs solution, ” Arias states regarding the alcohol shops.

An Advance America payday lender sits when you look at the shadow of the liquor store on Fresno Street in Southwest Fresno. (GV Wire/Jim Jakobs)

Wayne’s alcohol

Arias claims one of many “worst” alcohol stores inside the district is Wayne’s Liquor near Edison senior school and Franklin Head begin.

“We fined them this current year once or twice for operating away from their use that is conditional permit” the councilman stated.

GV Wire? attempted to make contact with Wayne’s alcohol by phone but could maybe perhaps not locate a number that is working.

The Fresno City Attorney’s workplace supplied this a number of complaints about Wayne’s alcohol going back once again to Jan. 1, 2019. (the town attorney’s workplace claims that an incident is closed once the company is in conformity)

• April 5, 2019 – junk/rubbish, high lawn and weeds, graffiti (case closed)
• Sept. 17, carolinapaydayloans.net hours 2019 – graffiti complaint (addressed)
• April 14, 2020 – violations of FMC and CUP associated with liquor product sales (situation closed)
• Jan. 2, 2020 – violations of FMC and CUP linked to liquor product product sales (situation closed)
• June 8, 2020 – graffiti problem (addressed)

Wayne’s alcohol is simply a couple of hundred foot from Edison twelfth grade and Franklin Head begin. (GV Wire/Jim Jakobs)

Parkway Alcohol

“Parkway alcohol can also be one particular locations where have experienced the best requires solution, ” says Arias. “It’s also a known meeting location for the pimps on Motel Drive. That’s where in fact the intercourse employees have implemented from. ”

GV Wire? contacted Parkway Liquor. A guy responded the device and said, ” “We don’t have actually to do business with the town. We now have no nagging issues after all. ” He hung up before providing their title or name.

The city attorney’s office provided this listing of complaints about Parkway Liquor dating to Jan. 1, 2019.

GV Wire? contacted Parkway Liquor. A guy responded the device and said, ” “We don’t have actually to work well with the town. We now have no nagging issues at all. ” He hung up before providing their title or name.

• Feb. 13, 2019 – inoperable vehicle parked in a driveway on jack appears (case closed)
• Sept. 26, 2019 – non-permitted electrical, junk/rubbish (situation closed)
• June 5, 2020 – graffiti problem (addressed)

Parkway Liquor sits regarding the south side of motel row in west Fresno. City Council Member Miguel Arias claims it is a known meeting destination for pimps dispatching intercourse employees across the roadway. (GV Wire/Jim Jakobs)

Secure Marketplace Neighborhood Ordinance

The council in 2019 passed a suggested ordinance — the Safe Market Neighborhood Ordinance — requiring that brand brand new organizations planning to sell alcohol in Fresno must buy a preexisting license instead than include another.

According to the size for the establishment, numerous alcohol licenses may be needed.