The agenda for the Shreveport City Council for the next meetings ---Monday the work session and Tuesday the regular meeting---includes a resolution sponsored by Council members Tabatha Taylor and John Nickelson as follows:
"to encourage the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) to place a moratorium on the issuance of any occupational licenses and certificates of occupancy for liquor stores/retail sales of alcohol-liquor to better serve, protect, and promote the health and welfare of its citizens."
This resolution should be defeated for many reasons.
1. The council has the final approval authority for these licenses and certificates of occupancy now. At the last meeting the council denied a drive-through daiquiri shop on North Market.
2. The argument of Taylor about too many liquor stores in black and brown neighborhoods has no merit in other Shreveport neighborhoods that may have a mixed population or be primarily white. And some who are black or brown may consider these comments to be discrimination.
3. Similarly, the Nickelson's mantra of "not voting to put a liquor store in another neighborhood if he would not so vote in his neighborhood" does not hold water for ALL applications. Does that mean he would not vote for one across from Cuban Liquor on Pierremont located next to Superior Steakhouse? Or on Youree Drive across from Thrifty Liquor?
4. The idea that the council wants to put a complete stop on a business enterprise sends a real bad message to the business community. What will be next--tattoo parlors, used car lots, car repairs shops? And the message may have constitutional issues because the logic that crime follows all liquor stores is not supported by facts.
5. Following the expressed logic of Taylor and Nickelson, then new liquor stores will be banned in Regions Tower downtown, Southern Trace or Long Lake , Pines Road near the Thrifty Liquor and Mansfield Road in an abandoned building or at the city limit line.
There is too much crime in Shreveport and there has been too much crime at liquor stores in certain neighborhoods. But these facts do not support a moratorium on all new liquor stores.