Health & Fitness
Crime and Alcohol in Lake Forest. Part 6 - Summary
We’ve spent nearly a week examining the request from a discount chain to sell beer and wine in two of their stores in Lake Forest.
In Part 1 we reported that –
Lake Forest has 159 total outlets selling alcohol, and among the 12 cities in South Orange County, we have the 5th highest concentration with 1 outlet for every 496 people.
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Of the 16 census tracts in Lake Forest, 5 are oversaturated, 4 are at their limit, 2 are below their limits, and 5 are zoned exclusively residential and do not permit commercial stores
In Part 2 we reported that –
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The majority of criminal offenders were under the influence of alcohol alone when they committed their crimes. This amounts to more than 3,000,000 violent crimes per year.
For 40% of convicted murderers being held in either jail or State prison, alcohol use was a factor in the homicide.
70% of alcohol-related incidents of violence occur in the home.
In Part 3 we found that
Throughout the U.S. research for the past 30 years clearly demonstrates that as the number of outlets goes up, serious crime and DUI arrests go up.
Right here in Orange County, for 2013, we found that as the number of outlets goes up, serious crime and DUI arrests go up.
In Part 4 we looked at the claims of the consultant and we found that
- The company does not need to sell beer and wine to remain competitive.
One-stop shopping is not a major consideration for the vast majority of Lake Forest residents and if it were, it could be accommodated better at several other stores (e.g., WalMart, Target, Smart and Final).
Decisions made for 99 Cents Store do not set a precedent for any other retailer.
Rather than adding to City revenue, there is a greater chance that allowing 99 Cents Stores to sell beer and wine will harm the dozen small businesses in the tracts where 99 Cents Stores hopes to operate, possibly causing some of them to close down.
In Part 5 we noted that
Lake Forest has a maximum of 31 Type 20 licenses that can be approved, and we currently are using 22.
Using up 2 (and probably 3) of these 9 licenses will restrict our abilities in the future to attract new businesses to the City.
Better choices to use these precious few Type 20 licenses include (a) businesses that offer something unique to the City (e.g., Trader Joes, Mother’s Market), (b) business that want to locate in one of the tracts that is not already oversaturated, (c) businesses that want to locate closer to the 5,000 new homes being built, and businesses that will cater to an ethnic group that is not currently being served.
Tomorrow, the Planning Commission meets to vote on whether or not to allow two more stores selling beer and wine in the City. They should do the right thing and vote to protect the health and wellbeing of our residents.
If you want a detailed report about this issue, e-mail me at DrJGardner@gmail.com
