The Los Angeles City Council on an October 2000 meeting recorded a denial of an alcohol license application for a proposed Superior Market in Pacoima after hearing sustained public opposition and a motion by Councilman Padilla. The motion passed by a 13-0 roll call.

Residents and community groups pressed the council to reject the request, citing public-safety and youth-protection concerns. "We don't need any more additional alcohol licenses," said Sanro Gan Ovando, representing San Fernando Garden resident corporation. Efren Alvera, president of the Haddon Mercer Homeowner Association, told the council Pacoima "has a bad negative stereotype of crime, so therefore, we do not wish to have any additional alcohol establishments in Pacoima." Javier Flores, executive director of Pobly Salud and representative of the San Fernando/Pacoima Alcohol ATOD Policy Coalition, urged denial on the basis of public-health research: "the more alcohol availability you have in a community, the more alcohol related problems you're gonna find in those communities. That means DUIs, spousal abuse, and a whole number of other crimes."

A representative of the applicant, Jay Milner, vice president of Superior Markets, said the company had withdrawn the PCRN application before the meeting but outlined the company's position: "We are a full service grocery store. The actual liquor sales in our company constitute less than 3% of our total volume. We have been in business since 1981 and have never had a serious violation regarding sale of alcohol to minors, intoxicated personnel, or anything that was negative to our company." Milner also said the store would create "approximately 200 full time jobs to the Pacoima area."

Councilman Padilla moved that the council deny the alcohol license application and place the denial on the record even if the applicant had withdrawn the request. The council prepared the roll and recorded 13 ayes; the president announced the motion was approved and that the permit was denied. The council did not record a second on the motion in the transcript.

The denial means the license request was refused on the council record; speakers and the applicant noted the store could still operate without an alcohol permit. The transcript does not record any subsequent appeals or follow-up dates related to this item.

Votes at a glance: Motion to deny alcohol-license application for the proposed Superior Market in Pacoima 6 mover: Councilman Padilla; second: not specified; tally: 13 ayes; outcome: approved (license denied).