Taking the reins on takeouts

Three years ago, Naomi Collins’ granddaughter arrived home one morning to find an intoxicated man lying on the stairs in front of her house.

"She called me and said, ‘I can’t come in because someone is sleeping on the steps,’" said Collins, of the 1700 block of South 21st Street.

The resident attributed the incident to a handful of stop-and-gos in her neighborhood and a former bar at the intersection of 21st and Watkins streets. As rumors surfaced that that vacant corner building would once again serve alcohol, residents rallied Aug. 3 with signs stating, "Children must stay – drugs must go."

"We don’t need any more corners where people stand in a big crowd and bring alcohol and drugs in the community," said Jerome Holman, a Town Watch volunteer and a resident of the 2000 block of Watkins Street. To date, he has collected some 500 signatures from residents protesting the rumored establishment.

Residents tired of fighting illegal operations at nuisance bars and stop-and-gos now have additional backing. Under a new state law, places permitting the takeout sale of beer, including bars, restaurants and delis, must seek a permit from City Council. Titled Act 39, the measure was signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell July 6 and also strengthens a statewide point system that penalizes license-holders for illegal activities occurring in their stores.

City Council will not approve a permit if its members feel the establishment will affect the health and welfare of the city and its residents. Once the law takes effect Sept. 6, all of the estimated 2,400 liquor licensees in the city need to acquire the new permits.

In January, City Council President Anna Verna formed a special task force taking aim at those establishments selling takeout liquor. The task force is comprised of representatives from the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Code Enforcement, the city’s Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office, Licenses and Inspections, community organizations and the business community, as well as members of the Pennsylvania Assembly and City Council. Community members who face the ongoing problem of stop-and-gos and nuisance bars in an area can address their concerns to City Council.

"Clearly there are some establishments that have been causing a great deal of headaches for residents," said Bob Previdi, Verna’s spokesman. "This affords them the opportunity to say ‘No, we don’t want a takeout at a certain location.’"

Charlie Pang, who recently acquired the deed to the property at 21st and Watkins street, maintains he has no intention to apply for a liquor license or opening a bar or restaurant. Awaiting word from the city on the building’s zoning, he plans to turn it into a small business or residence. "I want to make money. I don’t want to make any trouble," he said. "If I can get a good price, I will sell it. If I don’t get a good price, I will rent it out" to cover the cost of my mortgage.

Taking a page from other areas like Old City and South Street, Point Breeze could soon implement its own task force to get a local handle on dealing with potential nuisance bars and stop-and-gos, said Steve Masters, City Council staff attorney. While the idea is still in the planning stage, a localized task force would benefit this community, which has a concentration of liquor-licensed establishments, he said.

A task force "usually attempts to work with a proprietor to resolve a problem," said Masters. "When those efforts aren’t effective, then they examine what other approaches should be taken."