white.qxd
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I read the recent article on the fight over liquor licensing taking place in many Chicago communities [October 2]. It seems that the gentrification of the city will only increase the incidence of conflict between new residents and existing businesses. It is worth remembering that living in the city is not the same as living in the suburbs, nor should it be. If people do not want to live near bars or liquor stores, they may want to consider the proximity of such places when deciding to move into the city. It is worth noting an article in the Sun-Times Monday, October 5, describing movements in the suburbs to go wet in order to attract businesses.
What is unclear to me is why the vote-dry ordinances are structured the way they are. It would seem that nuisance businesses that sell to underage persons or that tolerate drug and gang activity should be dealt with by the police, not necessarily by the liquor licensing commission. If neighbors identify a problem business, they should seek to have the owners and operators arrested, not try and eliminate liquor from the neighborhood. Also, it seems that the ordinance should require a higher percentage of votes to make a precinct dry than it does to get rid of a problem business, since the numbers affected are likely to be so much greater and because the economic impact more widespread.
