2020-02-20 Liquor Adjudication Board Minutes

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Takase: We've had them on life support for a while and I've spoken with the vendors about it, saying that if we close them down, which we could have, everybody's going to lose. Since about September or maybe even August, they have been making some payments. I think they've brought a couple of them current. Gonzalez: They did. Takase: But they still owe others money. At that time, I told them that they needed to pay us, but they need to pay their vendors also if they're going to stay in business. He was trying to get there, and we probably carried him longer than we would've a normal business, but it was just my feeling that if I shut him down, nobody's going to get paid anything and we'd all lose. He was always of the opinion that if he was given a chance, he'd do something. Up until January of this year, he was trying to make payments. He's asked what was going to happen. I told him that if he paid up all his bills, we'd carry him. We wouldn't cancel his license just because of that. He'd be getting more fines because of it, but (being) a young person trying to make (a go of) it, we were trying to give him a chance. That was our primary goal, to not beat everybody out. If he had just walked away from it all, probably, everybody would lose. Takase: I told him that I felt I should shut him down to save him from himself because he seemed to be racking up more bills. He said 'no, just give me a chance and hopefully I can come out of it.' From what we could see, at least on the weekends, he was pretty busy. There was a chance for him to make some money back. But he understands that he needs to clear everything before we would let him back in the business or sell his license. Even after he closed, we received an email the other day asking to know all that he owed. He's still keeping in contact with us and trying to do something. Smith: Kind of a related question, by not revoking his license, is there still some value to that? That he could assign it to a subsequent lessee of this location so they can start this business? So there's value there? Takase: Yes, there's some value to it. Usually, what happens in those kinds of cases, they get the new licensee to pay up all their debts for them. If they were smart about it, you'd think the new licensee would say'I'II just apply for my own.' It doesn't hurt us to hold it in limbo for now and if it makes them pay it up, then so be it. Smith: Sounds good, any further questions? Mukai: Mr. Chair, I move that we accept the recommendation of the Department. Taniguchi: Second. Mr. Mukai moved that the Licensee in Case No. 2020-003, be assessed a penalty in the amount of $1,000 to be paid within thirty (30) days upon receipt of the Decision and Order; seconded by Mr. Taniguchi. Smith: Thank you, Dwayne and Art. Any discussion? FEBRUARY 20, 2020 -LIQUOR ADJUDICATION BOARD MINUTES 19