City Gets Second AIA
It is official. A large swath of the South End and East Tacoma will no longer have high-alcohol beer and wine come October 1. The state liquor board yesterday approved the decision to create an Alcohol Impact Area (AIA) that would limit those sales in an effort to discourage public drunkenness.
From the Tribune:
The boundaries of the new zone will be Interstate 5 to the west, south to 72nd and 76th streets, east to Portland Avenue and north to Interstate 5.
The resolution bans 44 high-test beers and wines associated with chronic public drunkenness.
Regular Exit133 reader Pat McGregor was one of the community organizers advocating for the AIA creation.
In the Exit133 Forums
Link to The News Tribune
Link to The Tacoma Daily Index
Filed under: south-tacoma, legislation
7 comments
C Christine July 17, 2008
Yeah! I’m in that area almost daily and it is about time! Yes, I know it just pushes the street drunks around to different areas, but that area can become an AIA too! Let’s get rid of the high-octane crap.
No, treatment isn’t the answer. If it were, it would’ve been done. If you know Cecil, Kelly, Kevin or Doug*, you would know that.
*Just a small sampling of the multitude of street drunks out there.
D Dave July 17, 2008
I put together a Google map of the AIA’s:
http://www.zastica.com/entries/tacomas-alcohol-impact-areas-map/
E Erik Hanberg July 17, 2008
Dave — great map! It’s interesting to see it laid out so clearly. I had no idea the first AIA extended so far into the North End.
F fontaine July 17, 2008
Shortly after the hearing a couple of months ago, I took the list of licensees inside the second AIA and mapped ‘em out.
http://tinyurl.com/5vk8vj
Kinda interesting to see where they’re bunched up.
E Erik B. July 17, 2008
Dave — great map! It’s interesting to see it laid out so clearly. I had no idea the first AIA extended so far into the North End.
Yep. It includes the brick store and gas station near Alder and 26th.
P Pat July 17, 2008
Thanks again for all who made this happen – we have seen this through from beginning to end.
Greetings from humid St. Louis!!!
W wonderw July 17, 2008
I have a business in the first AIA. The high-octane ban certainly has not eliminated public drunkeness. The Chronic Street Inebriates will just switch to another brand not on the banned list, whatever is cheapest. The store owners will be more than happy to supply their needs. Be prepared to see a lot of Icehouse and Milwaukee’s Best empties in the new AIA.
Dealing with the drunks and their nasty habits is a constant annoyance. Open containers, littering, public urination and defecation are daily occurrences. We chase them away, we call the police, we clean up the litter, but no long-term improvement. The warmer weather just brings them out in greater numbers.
Until policies are changed which enable the drunks to carry on their lifestyle, I see no improvement on the horizon. It costs the city and neighborhoods millions of dollars in direct and indirect costs because we tolerate this behavior.