New Bar Questioned
A bid to open a new bar right across the street from an existing one with multiple violations got short shrift from the City Council Monday.
The council was being asked to consider a “place to place” transfer of a liquor license to 316-18 West Front Street, but it came out in the wash that the license had not been in use anywhere, but was instead a so-called “pocket license” for the past four years.
The plot thickened when officials revealed that the license sought by Edith Vargas had previously been denied when her husband, Milton Vargas, applied for it.
Police Chief Edward Santiago said the license was then switched to the wife’s name, a move he said should not be allowed under state Alcoholic Beverage Control laws.
“It’s really back-dooring the whole system,” Santiago said.
According to a report by a police detective, the plan was for the proposed new owner, El Palacio Latino Corp., headed by Edith Vargas, to rent a building owned by Quintero Construction, a business owned by her husband, at the rate of $6,500 monthly.
But the police report said over five years, the bar opposite, Pueblo Viejo, has had 720 police calls, mainly for violent crimes including fights, robberies and aggravated assaults.
Pueblo Viejo’s own license was in jeopardy a few years ago, but the owner agreed to install security cameras and take other measures to reduce negative incidents at the bar.
On Monday, Santiago said the cameras proved mostly useful to identify “people fighting.” Santiago said a videotape that showed recent murder victim Lazaro Tista leaving the bar helped police establish a timeline for his death.
Santiago mentioned a spectrum of bars that add to the overall problems of alcohol abuse in the city. Plainfield has far many more liquor licenses than new state laws allow, but they are “grandfathered in,” because they existed before the law changed.
Council members asked for more information on the police incidents.
Councilman Harold Gibson has insisted that the city has too many places that sell alcoholic beverages and continued his objections Monday.
The matter may be up for a vote at Wednesday’s regular meeting. That meeting is 8 p.m. in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
--Bernice Paglia
The council was being asked to consider a “place to place” transfer of a liquor license to 316-18 West Front Street, but it came out in the wash that the license had not been in use anywhere, but was instead a so-called “pocket license” for the past four years.
The plot thickened when officials revealed that the license sought by Edith Vargas had previously been denied when her husband, Milton Vargas, applied for it.
Police Chief Edward Santiago said the license was then switched to the wife’s name, a move he said should not be allowed under state Alcoholic Beverage Control laws.
“It’s really back-dooring the whole system,” Santiago said.
According to a report by a police detective, the plan was for the proposed new owner, El Palacio Latino Corp., headed by Edith Vargas, to rent a building owned by Quintero Construction, a business owned by her husband, at the rate of $6,500 monthly.
But the police report said over five years, the bar opposite, Pueblo Viejo, has had 720 police calls, mainly for violent crimes including fights, robberies and aggravated assaults.
Pueblo Viejo’s own license was in jeopardy a few years ago, but the owner agreed to install security cameras and take other measures to reduce negative incidents at the bar.
On Monday, Santiago said the cameras proved mostly useful to identify “people fighting.” Santiago said a videotape that showed recent murder victim Lazaro Tista leaving the bar helped police establish a timeline for his death.
Santiago mentioned a spectrum of bars that add to the overall problems of alcohol abuse in the city. Plainfield has far many more liquor licenses than new state laws allow, but they are “grandfathered in,” because they existed before the law changed.
Council members asked for more information on the police incidents.
Councilman Harold Gibson has insisted that the city has too many places that sell alcoholic beverages and continued his objections Monday.
The matter may be up for a vote at Wednesday’s regular meeting. That meeting is 8 p.m. in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 11:29 PM
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