Fairfax Liquors - An Impedance to Progress

After wrapping up my first ever post, I received an email from Dave Coldiron regarding Fairfax Liquors, specifically, what can be done to revoke their liquor license. For those of you who are not familiar with Fairfax Liquors, well you should just stop by there sometime and see for yourself (28th and Fairfax). I would not suggest going at night. This place is a hole and is the leading impediment to any meaningful redevelopment of the Fairfax commercial street (My words, not Dave's). I believe it's an embarrassment to our neighborhood. There, I said it.
Below are the contents of Dave's email - now put down that doughnut and write a letter!
BR

Hi Everyone,

This is from your neighbor on Forest Street. I wrote to the director of Excise and Licensee, Charlotte Ayeni, to ask how we as neighbors could request a hearing on the renewal of the liquor license of Fairfax Liquors. (her email is charlotte.ayeni@denvergov.org)

I think this is our chance to finally get our concerns on the official record, and have our voices heard. No city official will be able to deny the large number of citizens who share a concern for the impact that Fairfax Liquors has on our neighborhood if we can come together and register our concerns with them. Here is a copy of the email:

Dave,

The Department will only cause a hearing to be held on an application for renewal under the following circumstances proving “Good Cause:”

ü The licensee or applicant has violated or does not meet or has failed to comply with any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the Colorado Liquor Code or any rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Colorado Liquor Code; or

ü The licensee or applicant has failed to comply with any special terms or conditions that were placed on its license in prior disciplinary proceedings or arose in the context of potential disciplinary proceedings; or

ü Evidence that the licensed premises have been operated in a manner that adversely affects the public health, welfare or safety of the immediate neighborhood in which the establishment is located, which evidence must include a continuing pattern of fights, violent activity or disorderly conduct.

You would have to address your concerns in a letter specifying the points listed above in a timely manner.

the address to send a letter to the city on this topic is:

Department of Excise & Licenses

Ms. Penny L. May, Director

291 West Colfax Avenue, Dept. #206

Denver CO 80202-5330

I plan on submitting a letter this week. A friend of mine who is an attorney and has dealt with the city on these sorts of things suggests sending a letter by certified mail to ensure that the person concerned receives the correspondence and to give you a record of sending the letter, as they sometimes mysteriously get "lost" in these matters!

I hope all of you who have shared concerns about Fairfax Liquor will do the same. I sense that there is strength in numbers here, and if we can get a large number of folks weighing in on this subject, the city won't be able to deny us a hearing….that is my hope, at least.

Best Regards,

David Coldiron