Last night, the BHNC Board (@ the monthly General Board Meeting) decided to not vote in [Support] of Birrieria de don Boni, or Purgatory Pizza's request for a new Alcohol License, but did not vote to oppose them either.
Birrieria de don Boni, which has existed along the first street corridor next to Mariachi Plaza for the past 45 years, having begun construction on their expansion recently. As part of this they have filed with the the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for a new license.
Purgatory Pizza, which has existed on the Boyle Heights Flats on first street across the street from Mendez High School for the past, approximately ten years, has also filed with the the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for a new license earlier this year.
Due to Birrieria de don Boni, close proximity to multiple alcohol licenses between Boyle and the 5 freeway. There area 7 similar existing licenses within two blocks. It can be considered that that there is an undue concentration of licenses, and compounded by that the census tract they are on may have reached it's limit on licenses.
Dis-similarly, Purgatory Pizza does not face the Census Tract issue, but face an issue regarding "sensitive uses." Within 600 feet, there exists schools, parks, churches, AA meeting locations, as well as the area its self being known as sensitive to alcohol. (The Community on the Flats has been working over the past 30 years to remove alcohol from the area see Council File: 17-0117 the "Alcohol Restrictive Use Sub-district (ARUS)" https://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=17-0117 ).
[see previous article for details:https://walkingeastofla.blogspot.com/2018/07/2018-07-12-pluc-meeting-in-review.html ]
What these two have in common, is the need to local support. This comes in two fronts. Signatures from the local community them self, showing that they are ok with this. Or via their representatives in the community, the BHNC.
The BHNC has historically been shown to oppose new licenses, while voting in support if there is a removal of one from the over all community of Boyle Heights. Yet, one of the situtations for Purgatory Pizza in particular, is that in the past, the BHNC has voted to support the ARUS (8-2-2017 Minutes: http://bhnc.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/8.2.17-BHNC-SPECIAL-MINUTES-General-Board-Meeting.pdf) citing the Flats in particular as a reason for support.
Purgatory Pizza stated that out of the 308 signatures of support collected, 234 were from local residents. It is unclear if this will be enough evidence to overturn past BHNC recommendations, or the proximity to sensitive use designee.
On the vote, which was unclear as all evening the Council was not properly reading of what the vote count was, was:
For Birrieria de don BoniMotion to Support [...?] (Daisy/Rafael)
Vote: 0 [yes] - 6 [no] - 4 [abstain]
* There was no further motion taken (WHAT THE FUCK!!)
For Purgatory Pizza
Motion to [support...?] (i don't have who made the motion or seconded, Myra/Daisy?); followed by a "friendly amendment" by Carlos or Vivian?
Vote: 1 [yes] - 6 [no] - 2 [abstain] - 1 [ineligible] (???)
* There was no further motion taken.
So before i go in to what this vote means, let's get in to the oddness of the vote.
Rafael Chayoga, whom was also voted as new PLUC Chair, was voted on to the Board earlier in the meeting, and may or may not be eligible to vote. It is required by the City that Board Members have taken the Ethic requirements prior to voting. It was unclear if he had already, which means that he can comment, etc as a Board Member, but makes any previous vote null and void.
The BHNC needs to ensure that it has made clear what the vote count was at the meeting, and what the motion was being voted on, and follow through with proper procedure if a change has been made to the motion.
What this means -
Essentially, what this means is that since the Board has take no position on this item. As it stands, with Birrieria de don Boni, will face the Zoning Administrator without support from the Council, but without opposition either. It is a null stance. The PLUC Chair, or the designated Board representative can issue the concerns raises at the public hearing or with the City, however, they must also include that they took no position.
With their hearing tenatively scheduled for August 7th - http://planning.lacity.org/pdiscaseinfo/CaseId/MjIwMTIw0
With Purgatory Pizza, however, since their hearing is further (not actually listed as of yet) off and no decision being made. The BHNC can hear this item again, and come to a decision later. Further discussion and consideration and efforts to solidify this position can be made. http://planning.lacity.org/pdiscaseinfo/CaseId/MjIxNDQ10
[[I will Conclude this article with this. I summarized. I will be working on a longer version of last night's meeting and issue it later. Here I was focusing on the hot topic issue. Later, i will be discussing on the overall meeting.]]
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