A proposed liquor license under discussion for "Discount Smokes" across the street from a Kansas City housing project is creating a controversy at City Hall and in the 3rd District.
City Staff and Regulated Industries are against the proposed license and the ordinance that would grant an exception. Meanwhile, Council Folks Melba Curls and Jermaine Reed quizzically seem supportive of the proposal despite opposition from the community.
TODAY MO DISTRICT 40 STATE REP. JOHN RIZZO NOTED HIS OPPOSITION TO THE CONTROVERSIAL LIQUOR LICENSE EXCEPTION!!!
Here's the letter that just hit:
In today's statement Rizzo notes:
"I must side with the neighborhoods on this issue and oppose the issuance of a liquor license at this location. Out community has been inundated with easy access to liquor for quite some time and a new store just doesn't seem to be in the best interest of Northeast."
Click the image to read the letter in its entirety or click here.
Once again, this is BOLD move by Rep. Rizzo that not only demonstrates he's listening to his constituents but also defies the expectations of some of his more cynical detractors.
Most importantly, Rep. Rizzo is creating a solid reputation as a member of the Kansas City Caucus in The Missouri House who is DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN HIS DISTRICT!!!
Hopefully, more of our Missouri Reps. will answer the call of Kansas City neighborhoods and it's rather KICK-ASS that Rep. John Rizzo is leading the way in Northeast.
Good for John.
ReplyDeleteRizzo you're toast. You turn your back on us knowing you took money from us? Enjoy next election.
ReplyDeleteThat's not good.
ReplyDeleteI think Johnny Joe did the right thing here. I'm pleasantly surprised.
ReplyDeleteHow bizarre that Reed and Curls support this despite the fact that a previous license in the same area had a ton of trouble. What do they think this will bring to that area? Or do they really care?
ReplyDeleteGreat move John the community wont forget.
ReplyDeleteWhere is Councilman Wagner on this or did he move to far north to care
ReplyDeleteDid Tony get this letter before Regulated Industries did?
ReplyDeleteHe can write his name? Who'd a thunk it!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see John Rizzo doing his job! It's only one paragraph but it's a start.
ReplyDeleteIt would be amusing if one of the illegal votes Rizzo received came from a liquor store owner.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work John and maybe I won't think you're a little weasel any longer.
ReplyDeleteJJ is a drug addict dick chaser
ReplyDeleteHey Will Royster your comments are as wild as ever.
ReplyDeleteGood Job Rizzo you have my vote .
ReplyDeleteTony, I gotta say that I'm surprised and I think this is a great move too.
ReplyDeleteI guess opening a legal business is subject to a democratic vote.
ReplyDeleteis there a liquor store at that same interesection already? So why are there protests for competition... which might drop prices.
John should demand his contributor and illegal voter from Lee's Summit, Joseph Cervello pay his taxes on his liquor store on Troost?
ReplyDeleteradio man that shit you don't know about opening a business could fill the Library of Congress.
ReplyDeleteThere are density requirements for liquor stores and Discount Smokes violates them. It's also not a good sign if Regulated Industries is against the license exception.
Do you even try to understand that topics you're commenting on Radio man?
Great Job John i am happy an elected official that lives here took a stand.
ReplyDeleteWhere is Wagner
ReplyDeleteThe "neighborhood" wants the convenience store. Does anyone know that there has been a convenience store there for the past 21 years? Everyone who opposes this only opposes it because as they say, "those people already drink enough." THE BLACK PEOPLE IN THE PROJECTS DON'T NEED A LIQUOR STORE ACROSS THE STREET. Call it like it is the african americans and the mexican americans don't deserve the same things that the white people take for granted.
ReplyDeleteTony's Kansas City believes BLACK people do not need basic things like a convenience store. Tony IS RACIST. The white people got a Quicktrip on State Line in John Sharps District AND the white people got Trader Joe's! Suck on that BLACK people! Racism is alive and well!!!
ReplyDelete5:26: It's not a racial issue. It's not about being black, white, latino, or whatever. There is a gas station right by that sells "convenience items." The issue is that by having another liquor store so close, it fuels people's addictions and temps them to fall back into old habits. Why put that temptation at their backdoor?
ReplyDeleteOh boy, a post about Missouri District 40--always fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a drinker, but if folks want to drink, they'll find a place that sells it to buy it. Density restrictions are well intended but run right into the human tendency towards intoxication!
the rizzo's must own a couple of liquor stores.
ReplyDeleteYou want to claim it's not racial - Sure. And Inner City oil sells, chips and candy - is that a convenience store where you're from?
ReplyDeleteSo what if I live in what you call the "Projects"? Why can't we have our convenience store back? It was here for over 20 years and I heard Gary Majors say that there were NEVER any major problems. Don't believe me? Just ask Gary Majors.
ReplyDeleteQuoting Radioman KC. He said...
ReplyDeleteIs this the proper role of government, to assure there is no market competition?
Seems to me they should stick to streets, sewers, water, trash and snow removal rather than hassle people who can't afford cars and insurance to get the vices they will get anyway. We all know poor people are poor mostly because of their vices and that's the way they want it. Sounds like south Kansas Citians telling poor people how to live.
Guess the mood here is that sex for sale in a titty bar is okay, but not smokes and drink.
All these sin taxes have just made poor people even poorer. And haven't done a thing to make Kansas City the Pleasantville the city brain trust wants to make it.
Seems to me the best way to keep drive by shootings from happening is to make their vices accessible so they'll stay out of cars, get their smokes and walk home.
And who knows, if there's competition, maybe those stores will expand and turn into grocery stores to draw profits.
I'm always amazed how the media will - for readership and ratings - yank the chains of those who would legislate morality.
Hardly a liberal press. No such thing. Just a profit press.
"THOSE PEOPLE DON'T NEED ANOTHER LIQUOR STORE" Exact quote from Kansas City's Alcoholic Beverage Advisory Group...Who are "those people" ---The Blacks! Now tell me this isn't racial. PS. That statement is on tape, just ask Gary Major's secretary to make a copy, which she will refuse to do. Sorry she claims you also can't get it under the Missouri Sunshine Law.
ReplyDeleteI so stand by what I've said. Reads even better when quoted.
ReplyDeleteThe arrogance of gumment telling us how to live!
North land Italians talking about racism so they can sell liquor. So funny.
ReplyDeleteGlad Rizzo has the courage to stand up to his own piasan when they want special favors.
Racism is racism - no matter who says it.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't racism for god's sake. This is about an area of town (the 3rd District, so don't look for Wagner on this one; Curls and Reed own it.) that is inundated with packaged liquor stores and this particular area doesn't have the density to allow another license. The liquor store will also be a check cashing place, another boon to healthy neighborhoods.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't about competition and the government, Scott Wagner or Regulated Industries. It's about the two elected officials from this area who support an exemption from the standard density requirements to give their buddies, the Siragusas, a liquor license.
Siragusas donated $500 to Jermaine Reed's campaign in March. Is that the going rate for a liquor license exemption in the third district?
I think we have too many Casinos. There should be density requirements.
ReplyDeleteAnd fast food restaurants. Too many Mcdonalds with their fatty, growth hormone foods. KFC's too. We need more laws. More lawyers. Thank god the legislature's in session so much of the time. Ban cigarettes, the're bad for you. Or tax them out of existance. That'll stop smoking, all right. Ban bongs and papers.
Oh wait!
Ain't no way you can't say this isn't a black/white and have/have not issue. If this exemtion is not a racial issue based on the "projects" being across the street then why did John Sharp push and receive the exemption for Trader Joe's at Ward Parkway (white area) and the new quicktrip on State Line (white area). Are people saying that those areas didn't already have too many liquor stores? Just look at Brookside, then south on wornall and south on State Line from 75th Street. PS - If an African American, or other person of color makes this statement does it make it less true?
ReplyDeleteLet's get it over with. Pass a law that says every business in the inner city MUST sell liquor, wine and beer, and offer payday loan services.
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah: And they must offer cigarettes for sale one at a time.
If they slap any more taxes on cigarettes, people WILL be scrapin up a dollar for a smoke.
ReplyDeleteNot that they should. No worse than lotto...offerin a dream for a dolla.
I'm for legalizing mj, like Bill Maher says. Tax THOSE puppies! I'll buy THAT for a dollar.
Is John related to the Whizzo who used to be on local TV years ago?
ReplyDeleteMy brother-in-law used to work a register at Git-N-Go, so I spent a lot of time hanging out up there during evening business hours. Not a single customer came to the counter without alcohol. The biggest seller were the Hurricane Malt Liquors. They literally had some guy who restocked the cooler with them every ten minutes.
ReplyDeleteI would rather see a tax paying business creating jobs than an empty property for squatters and urban copper miners, but not if it requires making a liquor license exception.
The most interesting part of the comments here is that Rizzo has probably received more praise than criticism for the first time since Tony ever posted a blog about him.