By Carlos Morales
Publisher/Editor, The VOICE: The Number One Source For News In North East LA
Excerpts from March '08 issue of The Voice: Click here for full story
After an exhausting eight hours of pleas from over two hundred concerned Lincoln Heights residents and petitions turned in with over a thousand signatures against the proposed LAS VILLAS Inc. development project, the East Los Angeles area Planning Commission voted 2-1 to deny the community's appeal against a video arcade and the sale of beer and wine.
The proposed Las Villas Entertainment Center will be immediately next to three schools: Gates Street Elementary School less than 75' away, Abraham Lincoln High School less than 50' away, and Little Flower Missionary School for pre-school children only 3' away. There is also the Kwan Ying Vietnamese Buddhist Temple; and The American Vietnam Chinese Friendship Association. Approximately 4,000 children attend classes near the proposed development.
The room was filled to capacity with community stakeholders armed with signs and banners, the row of media cameras ready to record and report live on scene. The overflow of about 30 more people stood outside the hall. Chants were heard inside the hall from the outside "NO ALCOHOL NEAR OUR SCHOOLS" repeatedly. It was near midnight when the vote came in, after the TV stations left, two of three commissioners decided to support Councilman Ed Reyes and the developers and deny the community's appeal.
One of the appellants in this case is Hugo Pacheco, who stated. "This is an absolute injustice. We thought the system was set up to serve the people, but it's obvious to us that the City is only interested in helping developers despite what the community may want." If the project cannot get funding without alcohol, adjust your business model so that you can open it without alcohol.
LA City Councilmember Ed Reyes Saying "NO" to alcohol "to go" permit .71 miles away. How come a full blown bar at a game arcade, even closer to schools is o.k., Ed?
To be continued...
Click here for full report
contact: voicepub@gmail.com
EQUAL TIME: See "Comment Section" of this thread for a response from Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council President, and USC Community Outreacher David Galaviz regarding The Voice and the front page article on LAS VILLAS. [Zuma Dogg's response to The President in brackets.] Plus, The Voice responds to Mr. Galaviz. (See comment section.)
Here's my favorite part: In addition, there are a number of liquor serving establishments in close proximity to three schools - Sacred Heart Elementary and High School as well as Griffin. These liquor serving establishments do not have the same requirements of Las Villas.
[UM...Thank you for making that most important point. With a number of existing liquor serving establishments in close proximity to the schools...DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S ENOUGH AND THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANYMORE ADDED!?!? Something is wrong with the logic you present if you are trying to argue FOR the liquor arcade across from three schools?]
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