By: Diane Benjamin
The Liquor Commission before Tari had (if I remember right) 7 members. The King wanted to make all the decisions himself, so he now has two assistants, one of which is going to vote with Tari every time. Only 3 members means Tari thinks and acts like he alone is the moral voice for Bloomington because he has the power to control when and where people have access to alcohol. The Council let him get by with it!
This week Tari said no to transferring a liquor license to the new owners of a convenience store at Hershey and Empire. The prior owner has NO violations. According to media, King Tari didn’t want the new owners selling alcohol because the neighborhood is turning sketchy. The minutes won’t be out for a month unless I have to FOIA them again.
Numerous problems with Tari logic:
- Alcohol can still be bought at the gas station across the street
- How many people will be walking across 4 lanes of traffic (twice) to buy it there?
- Is the owner of that gas station a friend of Tari’s?
- What family will be the first to sue when somebody gets hit by a car crossing those 4 lanes?
More logic problems:
- The new owners of the convenience store probably assumed there would be no problem with the liquor license, it was factored into the purchase price. If they have closed on the sale, Tari now owes them for devaluing their business since revenue will decrease.
- The new owners have less than tradition American names: Pravinkunur Patel and Shivabhui Patel. Will racial discrimination be part of the lawsuit? I thought Tari was “welcoming”!
- Tari governs on “feelings” instead of fairness. He took away the free market rights of the new owners to sell a product that Tari “feels” may cause trouble. Laws can not be based on “feelings”. According to media reports, Tari’s ruling was based on how he “feels”. His appointee buddy went along with him. For the first time I can remember the other appointee didn’t. Ruling by “feelings” means justice depends on who is in power. One would think a political science professor would know better.
- The area Alderman – Joni Painter – agrees with Tari, maybe she will be part of the lawsuit. Maybe this was her idea.
- If the sale has not been finalized, the buyers may back out. That means the old owner could sue, especially if the buyers want the price reduced thanks to Tari.
The real problem with the neighborhood is people refusing to tell the police what they know. I heard a lot of people witnessed the shooting of 4 people but “snitches get stitches” philosophy is keeping them from talking. Do these people realize they are voluntarily enslaving themselves to continuing violence?
Treating police as the enemy means the violence will only accelerate. Do Black Lives Really Matter?
They do only if witnesses cooperate with the police to get rid of those causing problems. If they don’t, they have only themselves to blame.
I’m sure Tari has the Springfield Law firm on speed dial. He’s going to need them.
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Well I sent this one to my councilman, Mboka Mwilambe too like the rest. Will see if they learn anything or bury their heads like usual.
They will probably claim they can’t do anything, the typical excuse.
Green Top Grocery seemed to sail through the liquor licensing process, including the ability to serve alcohol in addition to facilitating the sale of closed containers. The elites continue to control Bloomington. Folks, this is an attack on business in Bloomington. Tari and his elitist friends believe that they can centrally plan your lives and decide what fits their ideology. Huge slippery slope here. This is a trial balloon that will only fuel Tari unless people stand up to him. Maybe the gutless weasels at the Chamber or O’Grady and what’s left of the EDC will stand up for business owners. Not holding my breath.
There is Section 8 housing near GT top. That place has had its share of “activity”.
Yes, yes. Funny you should mention that. Didn’t the snobs at Green Top tell us that we need that location to help people living in a “food desert”? Ya, I’m sure the Section 8 residents can’t wait to buy a loaf of locally baked bread for $6 and an organic kale salad for $12.50. So, Green Top needs to be placed in an area of “activity”?
That neighbor hood, hell many parts of the whole city has been sketchy and going downhill for a long time. Socilaist polices have only made it worse! Renner is such a buffoon. (My apologies to any buffoons out there, it’s just an expression.)
How ironic, that the drunken fool, aka Renner in Japan, is the “King of BMI Liquor Commission”! Just because he can’t handle his liquor doesn’t mean everybody else has a problem with it too! It’s also funny how he thinks denying the license will help the neighborhood. King Renner indeed!
Excellent article, raising many questions. Keep up the good work.
Why don’t more people confront Mayor Renner ?
Small town fear. Everyone knows everyone. There’s no opposition to shield those that speak out. Tari and his followers are good at silencing opposition and consolidating power with powerful people and groups in town. Politically, he needs to be careful not to overplay his hand. That almost cost Koos his job last election cycle.
Good question, Jim. There are 3 or 4 who speak out at Council meetings. Some speak out at other meetings and at the Mayoral Open House. All are dismissed. More people need to be educated, which Diane is doing. Large groups need to fill the Council chambers.
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I was at the Atlanta Library Board meeting lat night. Tiny town, but I bet there were 30 citizens there. It was because of THEM taxpayers were saved from buying a building for $200,000. They got it for free even though most of them didn’t want it.
Because if you make too much commotion you will be punished one way or another – and that is the truth of the matter, especially if you own a house/property or a business.
1. The City is culpable for the conditions in that neighborhood just like they are for the other deteriorating neighborhoods. Code violations are not enforced.
2. Alderwoman Painter attended the Liquor Commission meeting and stated a neighbor complained that there was a lot of foot traffic from the apartments to the convenient store. This statement reminded me of the Trevon Martin case…a self proclaimed neighborhood watchdog monitoring and judging “unsavory” citizens.
3. Walkability, the new buzz word for “foot traffic,” is being promoted elsewhere, so what is the problem here?
4. The Alderwoman seems to be the part of a “temperance league” what with requesting a moratorium on Video Gaming.
5. Green Top Grocery is requesting a special liquor ordinance be created for their business in order to serve alcohol by the glass and take the remainder of the bottle home. Renner is in favor of that and has requested corporate lawyers to fashion the new ordinance specifically related to their request. The Gingerbread House, a children’s toy store, is next door to Green Top Grocery. Wasn’t Circle K, in Ward 5, denied a license because it was in close proximity to a day care?
Crap like this destroys the fabric of the City.
That “foot traffic” might just be people with the munchies!
My point is, the hypocrisy is so blatant. Not In Our Town, Welcoming Ordinance for “people of color.” It is all B.S. The whole group should take a long look in the mirror.
besides, the “foot traffic” can still hop across the very busy street
It’s ridiculous when there is another alcohol seller right across the street..duh!
The Patels are most likely HINDUS, I don’t think Hindus get included in the “Welcoming Ordinance” and I am serious about that – note that the “Welcoming” signs are written in English, Spanish and Arabic, NO Sanskrit/Hindi or Asiatic languages or Polish or Greek etc are included. I noted this right away.
Allowing Green Top to sell alcohol is going to really put a dent into Franzetti’s sale of alcoholic beverages. The Indian couple who have owned this store for years have been responsible business owners and a part of our neighborhood for years. Unfortunately, the people who live in the Section 8 housing on Washington are too lazy to cross the street eat the stoplight and you have to dodge them as they cross at various points along Washington.I wonder how much increased jaywalking we will have to endure when Green Top starts selling booze? How many drunks will be dragging their butts across the street in front of traffic? WHY DOES GREEN TOP GET SPECIAL CONSIDERATION? ANSWER: BECAUSE ITS CONNECTED TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. Why does Renner stick it to people of Indian decent? Personally, I’ like to see Bloomington do what other municipalities do. Make the entire City Council the Liquor Commission and have them hold their hearings before City Council Meetings. That way citizen representatives ( in theory) sit on the Commission not lackeys of the Mayor.
I doubt they will be going to Green Top for imported Polish Pilsners, 20 buck a bottle wines, and mix your own 6 packs of various microbrews for 12 bucks – if Green Top puts 30 packs of Natty on sale for $14.99 and has Weekend specials on 40 OZs then Franzetti’s may need to worry a bit. There would pearl grasping all over the place if Green Top suddenly became THE Spot to get hooked up with some Hennesy and some ice cold Michaladas.
Some of this drug dealers in there have a lot of cash, the others will just steal it.
Green Top already has a liquor license to sell alcohol (in sealed containers) to be consumed off of the property. They want to be able to sell a bottle, have it opened during cooking class, then take the open bottle home. Currently, there is no class of license to match those criteria. Renner is having corporate council draft a new ordinance to allow GT’s request.
“Some of this drug dealers in there have a lot of cash, the others will just steal it.”, True, and that will go over real well – oh my Green Top having to deal with “The NEIGHBORHOOD??? Heavens NO!
Green Top could barely keep afloat, I wonder if they think liquor is going to really increase their revenues enough to stay in biz? I predict it won’t, and the sooner it goes under, the better.
I keep waiting, I check the parking lot frequently I don’t know how they are staying open now to be honest – I wonder what their food waste is from spoilage and expiration dates on the fresher type articles such as bread, dairy products etc? I would guess fairly high.