Committee advances revised liquor moratorium targeting 13th Ward commercial corridors

A St. Louis Public Safety Committee on a procedural vote advanced Board Bill 52, a revision to an existing liquor moratorium the sponsor said was updated after ward boundary changes.

Alderman Boyd, who introduced the bill, told the committee she worked with the excise office to “restructure our moratorium” because her ward had expanded and a blanket ban would have blocked new businesses. She said the revised moratorium “targeted all the main quarters” and specifically identified corridors including Hall Street, Broadway, Natural Bridge, Martin Luther King and “Guptown.” According to Boyd, the change is intended to allow sit-down restaurants to serve alcohol while retaining protections for residential areas: “That’s the whole concept,” she said.

Vice Chair Aldridge and other committee members voiced support during a brief question-and-answer exchange. Alderman Clark Hubbard thanked the sponsor and asked to be added as a cosponsor; Alderwoman Velasquez said she had no questions and also requested co-sponsorship.

The chair moved to advance Board Bill 52 out of the Public Safety Committee with a due-pass recommendation. The motion was seconded, a previous roll was requested and, hearing no objections, the chair stated “board bill number 52 is out of public safety with a due pass recommendation.”

The action advances the bill toward further consideration by the full Board of Aldermen; the committee record does not include a final ordinance number or implementation details beyond what the sponsor described.