Gas Station Gets Hosed in Alcohol License Appeal

owner Ron Ince fought a losing battle at Tuesday's Watsonville City Council meeting.

The downtown businessman unsuccessfully appealed an earlier rejection from the Watsonville Planning Commission, City Council and police chief to add beer and wine sales to his convenience store.

Ince, who purchased the liquor license from nearby La Tiendita market, argued that license would help his business and increase revenue for the city while moving alcohol sales a little farther from two schools.

"La Tiendita looks shady on a bright day," Ince said. "It’s right next to an elementary school."

But the bigger-picture issue prevailed again Tuesday. Approving Ince's application would bring the total number of alcohol retailers in the city to 133 and position 10 of those in a high-crime stretch of downtown.

Watsonville Police Chief Manny Solano, who rejected Ince's earlier application, said the decision was difficult, but he couldn't establish another alcohol retailer in an area where the crime rate is 2.5 times that of the city's average.

Representatives from several community groups, including a 17-year-old girl, also advocated for rejection, citing concerns about teens' access to alcohol and habitual drunks.

A couple Main Street American Fuels employees spoke in favor of adding a beer cooler.

Ince finished by saying it's hard for an independent fuel station like his to make it without other forms of income, and he felt he would be a responsible alcohol retailer by implementing safeguards to prevent minors from buying booze.

"I’ve been in this community 30-plus years doing business and I don’t have a negative mark against my name," he said.

The council voted unanimously against Ince's application.

"As you can see, the community is just not in support of this so I would like to make the motion to deny the appeal," Councilman Eduardo Montesino said.

The other big item in front of the council—downtown parking—was discussed but tabled because several students who had come to weigh in on the issue left during lengthy presentation about the issue.

The most significant change to parking lots flanking Main Street was reducing the parking limit on Lot 14—on Rodriguez Street between the adult school and —from two hours to one hour.

The parking lot debate was continued to the Oct. 11 Watsonville City Council meeting.