Humboldt Park Precinct’s Vote To Ban Liquor Changes Neighborhood

By Staff in News on Apr 1, 2011 7:00PM

In an effort to reduce violence, voters in a part of West Humboldt Park voted to ban liquor sales in their precinct. Pagan Liquors at 3251 W. Division St. was a source of much of the turmoil in the neighborhood. Kurt Gippert, the Executive Director of the United Blocks of West Humboldt Park, said that people would loiter, drug deal, and participate in gang activity in front of the store. Ten people were shot there in 2010 during the nine or 10 months the store was in business. As a result of all the violence, voters made use of a 77-year-old rule, which allows precinct residents to ban liquor sales with a referendum. Some worry, however, that the CVS store will close as a result of losing liquor sales. CVS officials said they had no plans to close.

"Our neighborhood immediately, overnight, transformed. So the proof was there that this was what we needed to do," Gippert said. The success of this change makes us wonder if other neighborhoods will follow their lead. It is no secret that poverty and alcohol are often a deadly combination, and clearly, banning liquor sales will make a significant difference in a community, but I am left wondering what will replace the liquor stores. What other measures will be taken to improve the quality of life of these residents? The absence of liquor stores may reduce violence in the short term, but what will happen when criminals find other, less predictable venues for their crimes? It seems to me that this may be a somewhat superficial solution to a deeply seeded socio-economic problem.

— Erika L. Sanchez