CITY COUNCIL: Special hearing Monday night on Plainfield's liquor licenses

The City Council will hold a public hearing on liquor license renewals at 8 p.m. Monday, June 27 at City Hall Library, 515 Watchung Ave. Residents have had much to say about the effect of bars and liquor stores on neighborhoods in the past. Consider the following and take this opportunity to speak your mind.

BACKGROUND: Liquor, licensing and the law: What it means in Plainfield

Annual license renewals are now before the council. Police reports on ABC inspections and other information can be considered by the council in its role as local ABC board.

The sale of alcohol in liquor stores and bars is a legitimate and highly regulated industry. However, the very heading of New Jersey's statutes on alcohol - Title 33: Intoxicating Liquors - evokes some of the problems that law and public safety officials face as a result of irresponsible alcohol consumption.

Drunk driving, public nuisances such as bar fights and rowdy parties, substance abuse and chronic addiction by both young and old as well as illegal sales in bordellos and after-hours clubs are only a few of the issues that cost taxpayer dollars for enforcement and may also cost injury or loss of life to innocent victims.

The city's first homicide in 2005 occurred outside a bar. The third stabbing followed an argument after a night of drinking, according to police reports. The notorious public disturbances at Park and Fifth, which resulted in a fatal shooting last year and other instances of violence, are caused by people assembling at that corner after bars close. In recent years, crowds of 200 or more commonly filled the street and residents blocks away could often hear gunshots.

Excessive drinking is also a frequent concomitant of domestic abuse and other family troubles that require a response from public agencies. Plainfield once had 38 license-holders operating bars, clubs and package goods stores. Citizen concerns and City Council response have limited that number somewhat through stricter inspections and hearings on infractions that have led to some denials of license renewals.

Other license holders have had conditions imposed for renewal, such as training for bar staff, education on liquor laws, sinage to curb underage drinking and drug use on the premises and beeing required to hire security staff. The city has also raised fees to the maximum allowable under state law and has challenged holders of "pocket licenses" to conform to state rules limiting the length of time they can be held.

State law now limits issuance of new liceenses so that there will be no more than one consumption license for every 3,000 residents or no more than one distribution license per 7,500 of a municipality's population.

PLAINFIELD population - 47,829
Consumption (3,000) = 15.9
Distribution (7,500) = 6.4

Because Plainfield licenses predate this formula, the city has more than double the amount of liquor stores allowable under the new rule. The number of bars and restaurants serving liquor rose to the point a few years ago that legislation was passed empowering the city to buy out a license, if warranted.

Annual license renewals are now coming before the council, at which time reports on ABC inspections and other information can be considered by the council in its role as local ABC board.

--Bernice Paglia

KEYWORDS: Liquor licenses, public hearing