Each week, Louis Dettorre will provide the PublicCEO Staff Report of the Week. Nominate yourself or a colleague by e-mailing ldettorre@publicCEO.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Public Safety Committee in the City of Oakland stated in a recent ordinance, “Having a liquor store in a neighborhood is not a bad thing. Having a problem liquor store in neighborhoods is a really bad thing.”

Some say “corner” liquor stores in the City are the only source for milk and diapers in areas where there are few grocery options. However, officials in Oakland are taking a stand that it’s time to take a stand against the stores causing a problem in the community.

If the only store in the neighborhood providing milk and diapers puts you in danger, than it is truly not a safe community asset. Enforcement makes stores a safer community asset.

The City Council passed a policy to abate chronic problem liquor stores by being proactive and strategic in vigorously enforcing the Deemed Approved Ordinance with a systematic approach.

Read the report here. 

In April 2004, overwhelming community concerns over problem liquor stores led the City Attorney’s Neighborhood Law Corps to investigate and formulate a report to both the City Council and Planning Commission on the status of alcohol outlets in Oakland. At that time, there were just over 900 liquor licenses in Oakland.. As of June 2011, there are 950 liquor licenses in the City of Oakland.

The City Council finds it in the best interest of the health, safety, and welfare those licenses in Oakland neighborhoods.

The City of Oakland adopted the following goals:
New off-sale and on-sale retail alcoholic beverage sales licenses should be permitted only when there is compliance with the Planning and Municipal Codes and the application is for a project that meets one or more of the following:

  1. Located in the Central Business District or Hegenberger Corridor; or
  2. A full service restaurant in any area of the City; or
  3. A large retailer with 25 or more FTE employees and 20,000 square feet or more in any area of the City; or
  4. Where there is an Oakland to Oakland transfer of the same license type in any area of the City.
The Ordinance states that the State of California currently contains 35,227 licenses (excluding restaurants). This creates a ratio of one license per every 958 residents.

Louis Dettorre can be reached at ldettorre@publicceo.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it