After reading that Town Center West's Rite Aid might be denied a liquor license, based on what part of town the store is located in, I was confused.

The rationale, explained in the article, was that a higher concentration of liquor stores and theft in that area means that if another liquor store was added, it would inevitably lead to more crime.

Now, I might have missed the day in school when the principal said: "Hey kids, people who drink alcohol are thieves!" It seems that what the city is trying to dictate is based on a classic slippery-slope fallacy.

But, what they are forgetting through their faulty logic is the fact that the majority of Town Center West businesses are locals, and they depend on the foot traffic created by the bigger stores. And, in these hard economic times, if Rite Aid isn't making enough, they will go the same as Mervyns, and Town Center East will have two massive stores empty.

While the west side may not be as nice or safe as some people would like, Town Center West is right across Broadway from the police station and City Hall, and has the Fire Department right behind it. Also, Town Center West is a beautiful and safe shopping center, with plenty of great local clothing stores, salons, restaurants and a great local coffee shop. Don't forget about Town Center West, Santa Maria.

Joe Payne

Co-owner

Coffee and Co.

Town Center West

Santa Maria