Greetings all,

As regards the Integrated Development Ordinance’s (IDO or O-17-49 and R-17-213 attached) recommendations regarding the use of a property for the sale of alcoholic drink within the City limits, it should be noted that the new recommendations are more favorable to neighborhoods that they have been in the past.  Evidence of that is found within the attached “Post-EPC / Pre-LUPZ Update” that recommends that the C-2 zone equivalent, MX-M require alcohol sale become a “conditional use” rather than its current “permissive use”.  Required distances from churches, schools and residential zones remain the same, adding a 1000 foot space between RETAIL liquor sales.  The broken package, minis, and fortified beer restriction is removed as it is unenforceable so, applicants will no longer be able to use this as a foil to show no harm to the community.  It is my understanding that Councilor Trudy Jones opposes the 1000 foot restriction as may other Councilors at this time.  As the 500 foot from residential zones restriction is not a State Statute as are the church and school restrictions, lobbyists are also trying to negotiate its removal as well.

Yes! It would behoove us all to write all of the City Councilors and appropriate City employees as well as requesting all within our collective community sphere of influence to do the same, ASAP.  The deadline for public comment is August 16 at 5 PM.  Please write sooner than that.

Do understand that liquor distribution and convenience store lobbyists have already weighed in heavily with OUR City Councilors.  Some of those Councilors are directly or indirectly accepting campaign contributions from those lobbies into their own PACs or PACs of affiliated campaigns of their “friends”.  Some will actually benefit financially by weakening community protections by virtue of their own professions.

Each of our City Councilors must be reminded that the sum of potential votes of their individual constitutes greatly outnumber that which any lobby is capable of providing them, regardless of what they or their “friends” are running for in the future.  They have a moral and ethical obligation to their constituencies and to their public health.

Please make your commits to all of the City Councilors, including your own,  their Policy Analysts:

"Davis, Pat" <patdavis@cabq.gov>, "Foran, Sean M." <seanforan@cabq.gov>, trudyjones@cabq.gov, azizachavez@cabq.gov, Isaac <ibenton@cabq.gov>, "Dolan, Diane R." <ddolan@cabq.gov>, kensanchez@cabq.gov, eromero@cabq.gov, "Pena, Klarissa J." <kpena@cabq.gov>, "Montano, Nancy" <nancymontano@cabq.gov>, "BWinter@cabq.gov" <bwinter@cabq.gov>, rburt@cabq.gov, danlewis@cabq.gov, rrmiller@cabq.gov, "DGibson@cabq.gov" <dgibson@cabq.gov>, csylvan@cabq.gov, Don Harris <dharris@cabq.gov>, dmemillio@cabq.gov

and to all of the listed ABC-Z Project team:

Mikaela Renz-Whitmore, CABQ Planning, ABC-Z Project Manager
mrenz@cabq.gov

Shanna Schultz, CABQ Council Services, Policy Analyst
smschultz@cabq.gov

Russell Brito, CABQ Planning, Urban Design & Development Manager
rbrito@cabq.gov

Crystal Ortega <cortega@cabq.gov>

and to the Office of Neighborhood Development Staff:

Sara Mancini, Manager
saramancini@cabq.gov

Vanessa Baca, Neighborhood Communication Liaison
vanessabaca@cabq.gov

Vicente Quevedo, Neighborhood Liaison
vquevedo@cabq.gov

Dalaina Carmona, Senior Administrative Assistant
dlcarmona@cabq.gov

I hope this will be helpful in supporting the protection of our neighborhoods.

Yours in community,
Charlie Bennett
La Mesa Community Improvement Assoc.