City Council Committee Approves Alderman's Dry Precinct BYOB Service Ban
By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 5, 2013 5:30PM
Ald. Deborah Graham (29th) (Photo credit: Vincent Powell)
The City Council Committee on Public Safety earlier this week approved a measure sponsored by Ald. Deborah Graham (29th) to ban BYOB service in establishments located in dry precincts across the city.
You may be surprised to know that there are parts of the city where alcohol sales have been banned—in fact, 12 percent of the city is dry.
Graham said she sponsored the measure after receiving complaints from constituents in her ward about a banquet hall coming there—to a precinct that had been voted dry. Residents are naturally concerned about the banquet hall's intentions. The hall hasn't said how they intend to conduct business but, understanding that banquet halls make money in part from from liquor sales, we can't see why one would want to open in a dry precinct.
“To ensure that they didn’t have patrons falling out of this particular establishment drunk from a precinct that had been voted dry, this was adding protection to a community that had concerns for that,” Graham said Thursday. “It’s not to hinder businesses. It is addressing their concerns. They voted it dry and they don’t want alcohol there.”
Graham's actions may not be completely altruistic, as they come after a Tribune investigation revealed Graham managed to pass a special ordinance allowing for the opening of a liquor store in an area of her ward with a moratorium banning new liquor stores.
With Graham's sponsorship, the business to receive $105,000 in tax increment financing. Additionally, it was bankrolled by Frederick "Juicy" Sims, a convicted drug dealer with ties to the Vice Lords street gang.
This is the latest in a series of incidents placing Graham at odds with the residents she is purported to serve.
She earlier backed a zoning change for a pawn shop in Galewood that will wind up in her ward when the redrawn maps take effect in 2015. The zoning change has been staunchly opposed by residents.
Graham told the Tribune she had no idea of Sims's involvement in the liquor store and this new ordinance she's backing can be seen as further covering of her behind. She originally tried to have the ordinance limited to her own ward but after the City Law Department said it would have to be imposed citywide, moved forward with it anyway.
NBC Chicago wrote in an editorial:
It’s clear Ald. Graham has a plate full of political problems, both with her constituents and the way she does business in her ward. There’s no reason why she should be allowed to ask the rest of the city to cover the bill for her mistakes.
Ald. Deborah Graham, who backs the proposal, said she's acting in the best interests of her constituents. It may be one of the rare times that has actually happened.