Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Equity Liquor topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public commenters urge caution on liquor licenses for adult‑entertainment venues and press social‑equity grievances
Summary
Public comment at the LCB meeting focused on safety concerns about allowing liquor in adult‑entertainment establishments (SB 6105 implementation) and a series of accusations from Black cannabis advocates alleging past licensing discrimination and conflicts in the social‑equity process.
At the July 31 Liquor and Cannabis Board meeting, public comment centered on two themes: safety concerns tied to proposed liquor licenses for adult‑entertainment venues and sustained criticism from Black cannabis advocates about the board’s handling of social‑equity licensing.
Mary Williams, a lived‑experience expert, testified in memory of a survivor and urged the board to keep survivors and people with lived experience involved in advisory roles. She said the addition of alcohol in adult‑entertainment venues increases risks including violence, substance misuse, and the potential for patrons to drug performers, and she urged ongoing research and regulation.
Rebecca Fondin of Ways Forward urged the board to cap issuance of liquor licenses for adult‑entertainment clubs until a two‑ to three‑year study can assess community impacts, citing a prior Seattle case where a liquor license and a paired study reportedly showed increased crime in the area. She called for investigator training on human trafficking identification and the inclusion of lived‑experience experts.
Multiple speakers identified as Black cannabis community leaders raised accusations about the social‑equity rollout. Sami Abdul Lazad (Black Cannabis Pioneers), Peter Manning (president, Black Excellence Cannabis) and Mike Asai (Emerald City Collective; Black Excellence vice president) alleged that past licensing decisions favored white applicants, described inconsistent scoring and appeals outcomes, and raised questions about conflicts of interest in third‑party vendor selection. Manning said he will pursue legal remedies; Asai said a May 8 change that shortened public‑comment time disproportionately affected Black speakers and described an on‑site confrontation he characterized as intimidating.
Board staff and members did not respond to these allegations in detail during the meeting; the board proceeded with rulemaking items on the agenda. The transcript records strong emotions and several calls for more transparent documentation of past licensing, third‑party scoring and vendor selection processes.
