South Tucson's packed city hall broke into cheers when the city council voted unanimously to oppose Walgreens' liquor license.
The license will go before the state liquor board in either April or May, said Peter Schelstraete, Wal-greens' lawyer. In the past, licenses have been approved despite the council voting against them, South Tucson Mayor Jennifer Eckstrom said.
"The best we can do is forward our recommendation," she said.The Class 10 license would allow the store—located at 1900 S. Sixth Ave.—to sell beer and wine to go. It must receive final approval from the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control.
Twenty-six John Valenzuela Youth 2 Youth (Y2Y) members—between the ages of 12 and 18—interrupted a presentation on a city workers' health plan at the Tucson City Hall meeting on Feb. 22, shifting the council's attention and making their objective clear: prevent an area Walgreens from getting a liquor license.
The kids in sneakers, backpacks and hooded sweatshirts filled the remaining seats and lined the walls. When the Walgreens discussion began, they raised their protest signs with phrases like "Progress Not Profit," and "Alcohol Will Ruin Our Community."
Residents who opposed the license filed to the lectern to voice their concerns in English and Spanish. One Y2Y member shared a story about his mother locking his intoxicated "Tío" out of the house. Others accused Walgreens of preying on the weaknesses of residents who struggle with alcohol and drug abuse.
"I don't want to be like all the other teenagers...most of them party," said Brianna Fransisco, 15. "I want to make something out of myself."
Each speech opposing the license ended with applause.
"We can overcome the greedy corporate people [from Walg-reens] that want to poison the people with alcohol," said Brian Flagg of Casa Maria, throwing his hands up to the crowd.
The decision to oppose the license comes after weeks of public debate. In the first of the meetings, a petition with 20 names was submitted to the council. Two weeks later the number of signatures had grown to 781, nearly 14 percent of the City of South Tucson. There were also three letters in opposition and two local supporters of the license.
Those opposed said they were concerned about increased criminal activity. City Manager Enrique G. Serna submitted a packet to the council that included a police report citing 405 calls made to the location from Feb. 1, 2009 to Feb 1, 2010.
More than 140 arrests were made. His opposition reflects the city's efforts to clean up the community, which struggles with drug and alcohol abuse.
"It's a slap in the face," Serna said of the Walgreens' decision to ignore the climate of the community by applying for the license.
In his packet, Serna noted the arrests made at Walgreens cost the city $20,000 yearly for jail and processing fees.
The number of calls, and therefore the city's costs, would increase if the license were approved, he said.
The license is one of about 160 Walgreens has recently applied for in Arizona. It is an effort to remain competitive in a weak economy, Schelstraete said.
If approved, the store plans to avoid what Schelstraete calls "high octane drinks"— meaning drinks that are low in price and high in alcohol content.
Their priority is to provide a service the current customers want and not to attract new business. The relatively small amount of alcohol they want to sell wouldn't impact the community, he said.
"What is good for the community is good for Walgreens," Schelstraete said.
Eckstrom is not convinced. The decision by Walgreens' corporate head to add yet another alcohol outlet in South Tucson is out of touch with the community, she said.
"How would somebody in Illinois know what the best interests of the community are?" she asked speaking of Walgreens' corporate headquarters.
