Just saw this posted on Downtown Dallas's blog:
Downtown Dallas Inc. has completed negotiations with four Downtown liquor and convenience stores to prohibit the sale of "high alcohol content beer and wine" to the homeless. Alcohol related crime was reduced 27% in the City Center in the first quarter 2010. We anticipate a reduction in alcohol related crimes in the DART West End Station area in the second quarter. The Safety Patrol conducts weekly inspections at four Liquor Stores to ensure they are in compliance with the agreement.I tried to reach Martin Cramer, director of public safety for the DSpotters and author of today's update, to get some more info. Like, what if you just look homeless? Half our staff is screwed -- screwed! If I were a smart man, I'd open a joint downtown that would allow you to rent formal wear by the minute.
Oh, but wait. I just talked to Downtown Dallas president John Crawford, who clarifies: It's not that liquor-store owners can't sell the booze to the homeless. "They've agreed not to sell it to anybody," says Crawford.
He provides a sampling of some the labels, most of which you'll find listed here: Schlitz Bull Ice, Busch Ice, Colt .45, Hurricane Ice, Keystone Ice, MD 20/20, Night Train Express, Thunderbird, Gino's Premium Blend and Richard's Wild Irish Rose. You know -- the good stuff.
Crawford says, his group has been working with liquor store owners -- specifically, the Cost One Food Mart and Tommy's Market downtown and two others in the West End -- to rid the stores of big-n-cheap bottles of high-alcohol-content beer and wine.
"We asked them to cooperate in what we're trying to do -- which is get downtown cleaned up, plainly stated," Crawford says. "And that means not stocking and selling certain types of alcohol -- and certain sizes, meaning bigger than 32 ounces -- to anybody. Now, granted, our research indicates the homeless have a tendency to purchase a lot of the alcohol we asked for cooperation with because it's cheap ... well, let's say inexpensive. We don't think that's adding much to downtown, to offer that type and size of product."
