Presenter urges council to slow liquor-license approvals, cites neighborhood concentration

The Presenter used the State of the City address to call attention to the pace and concentration of liquor licenses, saying residents want fewer bars, liquor stores, pawn shops and payday lenders. "Our community survey told us plainly what residents want in our comprehensive plans," the Presenter said, and urged the council to be more skeptical of new licenses and to hold existing licensees more accountable.

The remarks framed the concern as part of neighborhood revitalization: the Presenter said that the presence of clustered alcohol outlets in neighborhoods that were historically redlined undermines efforts to improve housing, jobs and public safety. The Presenter requested that the council review license holders that demand disproportionate police resources.