La Cantina owner and community press council as liquor-license fight continues; neighbors and staff disagree on timeline

Dozens of neighbors, employees and business supporters addressed the Waukegan City Council on March 17 in a sustained public-comment block urging the city to finalize a liquor license application for La Cantina (operating adjacent to Toluca’s). Speakers described the venue as a community gathering place that provides jobs and cultural events; the owner and attorney said the business attempted to follow city directives but ran into inconsistent communication and delays during the licensing process.

What supporters said: Attorney Robert Rataca and a number of employees and patrons said La Cantina is a family-owned operation with community ties and that staff and customers have suffered financially and socially after the business was closed. Owner Edwin Lagunas acknowledged a 2018 DUI on his record and said he had attempted to comply with city conditions when he opened as a restaurant/bar. Several speakers said the business invested in meeting inspection and occupancy requirements and asked the council to allow an expedited hearing or reconsideration so employees could return to work.

What officials and critics said: Other council members and staff said the property had been operating in ways that required additional regulatory review and that inspectors and the liquor-control process flagged activities inconsistent with the current permit status. Alderman Guzman and others said operating as a nightclub or selling alcohol without correct licensure was unacceptable and that staff must ensure consistent enforcement. City staff and corporate counsel said they were working with the applicant and clarified that background disclosures and ordinance compliance are part of the review.

Process and status: The applicant’s attorney said the application had been in process for roughly four months and that administrative steps, including background checks, created delays. City staff said some elements of the case required additional review — including a criminal background question related to a prior DUI — and that a licensing board or commission process would need to be followed. The council did not take final action on the La Cantina license during the meeting; staff said they would continue to work with the applicant and that some issues might be resolvable administratively.

Why it matters: The dispute highlighted competing priorities: neighborhood economic activity and jobs vs. public-safety, code compliance and equitable enforcement. Several speakers urged the council to clarify and speed permit-processing timelines for small businesses and to ensure consistent city communications so applicants know exactly what steps are required.

Provenance: Compiled from the March 17 public-comment period and council discussion about licensing process and enforcement.