November 18, 2008
Why does the Ventura City Council hate business?
I've decided to begin documenting every instance of the Ventura City Council's apparent hostility to both business and logic.
The first example involves Target seeking a liquor license for its new location in what used to be the old Robinson's-May Department store.
Target Corp. will not be allowed to sell beer or wine at its Pacific View Mall store, the Ventura City Council agreed in a split vote Monday night.
The council majority didn't like the idea of having alcohol in a mall frequented by teenagers and sitting across the street from a middle school.
"You have hundreds of kids hanging out in this enclosed mall. It's just not a compatible use," said Mayor Christy Weir, who was joined by council members Brian Brennan, Carl Morehouse and Neal Andrews in the 4-3 vote Monday night against Target.
The decision upheld an August decision by the Planning Commission, which turned down Target's application to sell packaged beer and wine at its two-story, 220,000-square-foot store that opened in March.
No other store in the mall sells packaged alcohol, although beer and wine are sold in restaurants such as California Pizza Kitchen and Red Robin. The other Target store in Ventura does not sell alcohol, but some in other cities, such as Camarillo and Moorpark, sell beer or wine in their grocery store sections.
The city planning staff had recommended the application be approved, saying the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption is allowed under city zoning rules and police didn't think it would be a problem.
Leaders at nearby Anacapa Middle School raised no concerns when contacted by state alcohol regulators, according to a Target representative, who also pointed out that a gas station across the street from Anacapa sells alcohol.
But the mayor said the commission's decision was sensible, given the mall is a popular teen hangout. "You don't have 100 kids hanging out at the gas station across the street," said Weir, whose children attended Anacapa. "Parents in general trust their kids to go there (the mall) without supervision."
So much stupidity, so little time.
Wine and beer are available at supermarkets scattered throughout Ventura, many of them within walking distance of elementary schools.
Oooh, the horror! Kids can walk down the liquor aisles at Von's, Ralphs and Albertson's ... and touch the bottles!
Oh, wait, did I mention the SavOn Drugstore near the middle school? It shares a parking lot with the Von's, so the kids have two purveyors of demon rum they can visit, after eating at the Burger King or the McDonald's.
From gas station mini-marts to liquor stores, supermarkets to restaurants, kids are exposed to booze for sale in a variety of forms, most of the teens, tweens and tykes avoiding the temptation to crack open a cold one and get loaded during recess or after school.
I just don't get it.
But Mayor Christie Weir takes the cake -- the very, very stupid cake -- for her series of non-sequiturs scattered throughout the article like steaming, fly-encrusted cow pats in a fragrant farmer's field.
"You have hundreds of kids hanging out in this enclosed mall. It's just not a compatible use."
"You don't have 100 kids hanging out at the gas station across the street. Parents in general trust their kids to go there (the mall) without supervision."
What the hell is she talking about?
Is there some sort of in loco parentis argument about kids and retail establishments? Are we to require parents or guardians to escort children through supermarkets, delis, or even the Devil's Den of Iniquity -- otherwise known as Trader Joe's?
Target ought to put an abortion clinic or a medicinal marijuana bar in their store; why do I suspect Weir wouldn't have a problem with either of those uses, notwithstanding her self-proclaimed concern for the kids.
Posted by Mike Lief at November 18, 2008 08:44 PM
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Comments
This is a natural by-product of the snit fit that the council threw when Target moved into the mall in the first place. Target didn't fit the dream image of hip, young, dynamic Ventura that the council wishes it could create. Of course, that whole image is doomed as long as the main industries are oil service, agriculture, local government, and consumer services.
Actually, the best example of the safe mixture of minors and stores selling alcohol is right across the street from Buena High School. Hordes of students hang out there before, during, and after school and the stores are simply extra-careful.
Another stupid city council decision, added to the growing list for which they will eventually be held accountable.
Posted by: The Little Coach at November 19, 2008 08:44 AM