SAN DIMAS OKS ALCOHOL SALES FOR DOWNTOWN STORE
By Alison Hewitt, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, CA
March 29 2007
SAN DIMAS – In an emotionally charged meeting marked by charges of
discrimination and references to the Armenian genocide, the City
Council gave approval to a gourmet liquor store to sell alcohol
downtown.
The discussion quickly turned angry as the Armenian applicant and
would-be owner charged residents with discrimination and the city
with imposing excessive requirements on him.
Some of the 50 residents accused him of threatening existing business
owners and trying to open a shop that would diminish downtown’s
reputation.
"I’m just a businessman," applicant Sid Maksoudian told the council,
and launched into a history of the Ottoman Empire, during which the
Armenian genocide occurred in 1915-17. "I feel like I’m back in the
Ottoman Empire."
Although Maksoudian’s proposed business received unanimous approval
from the Planning Commission, it came before the council after City
Council member Denis Bertone appealed the commission’s decision.
After more than three hours of testimony, the council voted 3-2 to deny
Bertone’s appeal. The majority asked city staff to draft a modified
version of the Planning Commission’s permit requirements, reducing
the conditions imposed on Maksoudian, for approval at the next meeting.
"Justice was done," Maksoudian said, while mutters of disappointment
could be heard throughout the council chambers.
The proposed store would sell high-end wine, top-shelf liquor and
micro-brewed beers, as well as caviar, gourmet cheeses, cigars and
other pre-packaged items, Maksoudian said.
Residents and business owners labeled it just another liquor store,
and vilified Maksoudian.
They accused him of shuttering downtown’s San Dimas Wine Shop and
Tasting Room and threatening to shut down other businesses that
did not support his application. Maksoudian denied the accusations,
saying established San Dimas business interests were targeting him
to drive him out.
Heidi Daniels, owner of the wine tasting room, said Maksoudian had made
a systematic effort to tear down her business. He admitted to reviewing
her permits to see if she was operating legally, but denied informing
the county Health Department that she lacked a health permit. The
Health Department closed down the tasting room last week, Daniels said.
"I acknowledge that it was the legal right of the applicant to report
our oversight to the Health Department," Daniels said.
"Unfortunately, he did not stop there."
She accused him of demanding the Chamber of Commerce revoke her
nomination to the board of directors, which Maksoudian confirmed. She
also said he told other business owners that he was going to shut
her down, which Maksoudian denied.
Julie Salazar, resident and board member on the nonprofit Festival
of Arts, said business residents had come to her and complained, too.
She acknowledged asking Bertone to file the appeal that called for
Tuesday’s hearing.
"He (Maksoudian) went down the street, merchant by merchant,
and through veiled threats he told them, `You’re either for me or
against me, and if you’re against me, things have a way of happening,’
" Salazar said.
He cited the wine tasting room as an example of his power.
Councilmen Bertone and John Ebiner opposed granting the liquor permit
to Maksoudian’s market, citing a large number of existing businesses
with liquor licenses in the area.
Councilmen Jeff Templeman and Emmett Badar said they believed they
needed to give Maksoudian a chance before condemning him as so many
residents had.
Mayor Curtis Morris argued that Maksoudian had every legal right to
open according to the city’s own laws, and that the city must grant
the permit.
"I would prefer something other than a liquor store at that location,
but I don’t think we have that discretion," Morris said.