Should there be a liquor license moratorium on U Street?

Short answer? No. But why, you ask? Aren’t we worried about turning into Adams Morgan?

It is reasonable to be conscious and concerned about the balance of commercial and residential activity in the greater U Street area. Which is why when a new business makes plans to come to our community we should consider its full impact as it progresses through its applications and approvals. But, the idea that a liquor license moratorium is a silver bullet for the issues that arise when commercial and residential areas exist so close together is just wrong.

A liquor license moratorium does not deter the proverbial Jumbo Slice from moving in. It doesn’t solve the problem we’ve always had of bringing more foot traffic to the retailers to help them stay in business. And it limits the number of restaurants and bars that might move in and have “eyes on the street” to help deter crime.

If this was a good idea then the ABC board would not have unanimously lifted moratorium in Georgetown last week and the Arts Overlay study (in which all 27 area commissioner were involved) would not have advised to increase the allowance in the 14th/U corridor. And by the way, Adams Morgan? Has a moratorium. Do we think it’s working well there?

So why are people like Councilmember Jim Graham and Commissioner Peter Raia* advocating for this as a solution for everything? I guess taking away all the options probably makes their jobs easier. If liquor license are no longer allowed, there are no difficult decisions to be made. I’m just sayin’. As a sitting commissioner, I take my responsibility to evaluate each item that comes before us very seriously. I would be pretty ticked if a prior set of commissioners tied my hands with a moratorium.

If you are opposed to a liquor license moratorium for U Street, make sure you tell your commissioner and start showing up at ANC meetings, the first Thursday of every month at 7pm in the Reeves Center.

*Raia is now specifically advocating for a moratorium in only his own district, which is basically the heart of U/14th. This would be potentially worse than a moratorium for all of 1B because bars and restaurants would be clustered in areas not in his district and throw off the balance. Check out the map of ANC1B. His district is 1B02. http://anc1b.org/map.html