Councilman Esparza explains his opposition to gas station-convenience store project

There has been a lot of talk about my decision to appeal a recent proposed convenience store, gas station, off-premises alcohol permit in my district. I want to set the record straight.

District 7 has the highest number of alcohol licenses for off-site consumption. There are currently 102 active off-sale licenses in District 7. That is more than 3.5 times the amount recommended by the state of California.

This is harmful for my district, where we continue to be a food desert, where my constituents pay higher prices for goods at these types of markets because there are no close grocery stores.

This is a bigger issue than one development and one project. This is also a public safety issue. How many recent stories have we heard in the local news about shootings, stabbings, and criminal activity surrounding these establishments?

My constituents elected me to do better by our neighborhoods, to stand up for what is right, and to listen to them when they voice their concerns that we need better living conditions, a better quality of life, more green space, and safer neighborhoods.

The reason government regulates development is because we are tasked with protecting the health and safety of our neighborhoods. Let’s move our city forward, not further behind.

Editor’s note: Late Wednesday the applicant for a 7-11 store at Tulare Street and Cedar Avenue withdrew the project application from further consideration.

This story was originally published May 1, 2019 at 12:34 PM.