An ordinance named the Responsible Neighborhood Market Act is being proposed at City Hall. While this ordinance is intended to reduce the number of liquor stores in Fresno, it actually imposes barriers on bringing quality markets to our neighborhoods, without addressing the current problem.
The biggest violators of city code are now the most protected people in Fresno.
Beware of unintented
Be careful of “doing the right thing” with the wrong repercussions. As written, this ordinance will:
- Allow existing liquor stores to squeeze out the competition.
- Go against Fresno’s goal of being a more walkable city, and as a result, contribute to air pollution.
- Protect the very businesses that the ordinance is meant to discourage.
- Do nothing to address the need for neighborhood markets in the underserved areas of our community.
“I strongly believe that the better course of action is to go after the main violators who are dragging our neighborhoods down... Help the good guys and go after the bad guys should be the direction the city takes. This ordinance doesn’t do that. Wonderful idea, wrong approach!”
- Welcome smaller 4,000-5,000 square foot markets with fresh produce and staple items in every neighborhood in our city.
- Require façade and interior improvements to existing liquor and convenience stores.
- Limit the percentage of shelf space that can be dedicated to alcohol sales.
- Require stores to carry a percentage of fresh food inventory and grocery items.
- Ban alcohol and tobacco advertising on the exterior of the building.
Help us bring more to Fresno
- "The Bizarre Thing That Happens When Grocery Stores Can’t Sell Booze" - The Washington Post
- "Downtown Fresno Grocery Store Wouldn’t Have Opened Without Being Able to Sell Beer" - GV Wire
- "More Fresno Leaders Call for Delay of Controversial Alcohol Licensing Rules" - GV Wire
- "Council Poised to Approve Alcohol Rules Without Discussion. Will ‘Bad Actors’ Be Protected?" - GV Wire
- " Fresno on the Verge of Reducing Liquor Licenses, in an Attempt to Clean Up Oversaturated Neighborhoods" - YourCentralValley
Send a Message to our City Council Members TODAY
Smaller markets can be built in neighborhoods all over our city, assuring universal walkable access to every community member. These cleaner, safer, more well-designed markets will stimulate nearby investments and reduce blight. Although the economic model for these smaller markets requires the sale of beer, wine, and in some cases, liquor, we can revise this ordinance to demand that only a small percentage of shelf space is dedicated to these products. Unfortunately, if this ordinance goes through as it is written today, it will make this small market model almost impossible to build in so many food desert areas of our city.
Email Your City Council Representative:
District 7: Nelson Esparza
[email protected]
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