On Tuesday, Antioch City Councilwoman Monica Wilson and vice chair of the parks and recreation commission Dominique King called for a ban on new liquor stores. They also called for a temporary moratorium of applications.
“First, I am officially calling on Mayor Thorpe to begin the appeals process for this liquor store application. This decision potentially has citywide implications concerning public safety, social detriments of health and quality of life,” said Wilson who noted while she is making this appeal she has not made a decision.
Next, she proposed a prohibition of future liquor stores in the city of Antioch.
“I’ll be proposing legislation on a prohibition of future liquor stores in the city of Antioch. In addition to my legislation, I am calling on Mayor Thorpe to immediately place a 45-day urgency ordinance on the agenda for prohibition of liquor applications until the development of a potential passage of my proposed legislation.
The press conference was held in response to the Antioch Planning Commission voting 4-3 in favor of Item 7.3 which is the Somersville Plaza Liquor Store. The applicant is seeking Use Permit approval for the operation of a new liquor store with a type 21-Off-Sale General license from ABC. The subject site is a 2.02-acre parcel developed with a commercial center and parking lot. The liquor store would sell beer, wine, liquor, drinks, snacks, and similar items. The applicant is proposing to operate from 7am to 12am, 7 days a week. Four employees will work at the store.
Wilson highlighted within a 2-mile radius of this proposed location, there are 8 active liquor licenses while there are only two bargain grocery stores within the same radius.
“Some of the liquor stores have become magnets for illicit activity and crime, people in our community deserve better,” said Wilson
Wilson explained the planning commission voted to move forward in placing another liquor store in one of Antioch’s most underserved areas which has been plagued by issues of high crime to poor health outcomes—noting crime at Sycamore Square, Delta Fair, W 10th Street and E 18th at Cavallo with over 50 active liquor licenses in areas of high crime or under resourced.
In fact, the area of Sycamore Coordidor has been the subject of two recent homicides on December 27 and January 17, a well as a shooting. Cavallo and E 18th has also seen its share of homicides and shootings over the years.
Wilson also pointed out the California Healthy Communities Data and Indicators (HCI) which shows that the 94509 zip code scores in the 35 percentile. The HCI measures diversity, equity and health outcomes of neighborhoods. She noted Contra Costa County overall is in the 90th percentile.
“As a result, I’ll be proposing legislation that prevents future liquor stores in the city of Antioch,” said Wilson.
Wilson was joined by Dominique King, who is vice chair of the Parks and Recreations Commission, a local business owner, who says she is a concerned citizen after February 15 4-3 split vote decision by the planning commission agreed to open another liquor store in the Somerville Corridor.
“Planning Commissioners chose to ignore the voices of residents and business owners,” said King who noted more than 150 residents have signed a petition in opposition to the liquor store. “Residents who make up these neighborhood and around Somersville listened to the mental gymnastics played to make this liquor store make sense. To actively come up with ways to trick residents into believing that this store would be everything but what this applicant wanted approved.”
King said no matter the spin placed on a name or isle of unhealth snacks offered or floorplan vs liquor ratios, the planning commissioners approved a liquor store.
“Right now there are more liquor stores in this area than a 1-mile radius of one another than there are grocery stores, or healthy affordable options for residents,” stated King. “There are less recreational outlets, access to educational, resource support.”
She called this store “overkill” given the other stores in the area already sell alcohol.
“Current business owners have expressed should this business open, they will take their business elsewhere,” said King noting the area is full of violent crime, burglary and vandalism. “Our children should not have more access to alcohol than they do healthy safe spaces. Our unhoused should not have more access to alcohol than resources.”
She thanked the planning commissioners who voted no.
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