Liquor License Law Strengthening Backed

In a surprise move, the Planning Commission on Tuesday postponed recommending changes in the city’s liquor ordinance that would make it easier for new restaurants to serve alcohol and instead acted to strengthen the city’s ability to crack down on rogue establishments.

About 40 residents, led by officials from Pueblo Y Salud, a northeast Valley social service agency, turned out at the Planning Commission meeting to protest what they expected would be a recommendation by the panel to loosen the city’s restrictive liquor license ordinance.

Instead, the commission postponed recommending changes in the law until a study of the city’s core business direct is complete. Also, the commission placated the would-be protesters by introducing a motion that would give the city more firepower in its efforts to close establishments that repeatedly violate the law.

“We went in there ready to box, and we walked away shaking hands with everybody,” said Xavier Flores, executive director of Pueblo Y Salud.

One of the toughest in the state, San Fernando’s liquor license ordinance includes a host of restrictions that have effectively ended the granting of new permits in the city.

In response to complaints from restaurant owners who say the ordinance has harmed their businesses, the Planning Commission began to consider changes in the law earlier this year.

On Tuesday, the commission said it favored a plan to change the restrictions in the downtown area only. A decision on the matter, however, was postponed until March when a study of the business district will be complete, officials said.

Planning Commission Chairman John Becker said the plan made sense because most of the city’s restaurants are within the core business area.

“The reason that this is really a good compromise is that is strengthens the public nuisance part of the ordinance,” he said. “We haven’t had a lot of success closing down these establishments in the past, but we hope that will change.”