For only $5, 14-year-old children can hang out at the Tita’s II in National City on weekends, dancing and listening to live music until 1 a.m. in the same room where alcoholic drinks are served.
That’s right. Teenagers in a bar. Partying with adults who are drinking cocktails.
The problem is, Tita’s II is not a nightclub. At least it’s not supposed to be. It’s a restaurant. But it morphs into a club on Fridays and Saturdays much to the chagrin of nearby residents.
And now the restaurant owners want the city to reward their bad behavior by amending their conditional use permit that would allow them to legally sell alcoholic beverages, with a residential neighborhood and an elementary school nearby.
Shame on them.
Fortunately for those of us who are vehemently opposed to this amendment, the National City Planning Commission is recommending that the city council turn down the request. We couldn’t agree more.
Tita’s II wants to begin selling liquor at 10 a.m. Really? Who needs to get drunk at 10 a.m.? That puts our community in danger. It sends the wrong message to the kids at the nearby school. We don’t want alcohol service that close to our kids.
The residents behind this Plaza Boulevard restaurant and nightclub will also be affected. Tita’s II is already the source of several noise complaints caused by loud bands, amplified DJ music and karaoke. If the license is allowed, our property values will decrease. That means less property tax revenue for the city. We can’t afford that.
In a memo by the National city Police a few years ago, the department cited serious public safety concerns in granting Tita’s II the conditional use permit modification, mainly due to morphing issues and how it would drain police resources.
Additionally, research shows that morphing leads to an increase in crime. A recent study says morphing causes an increase in bar fights, assaults, stabbings, shootings, robberies, homicides and incidents of driving under the influence of alcohol. (See highlighted paragraph below.)
If the city of National City allows Tita’s II to obtain an ABC license modification, the restaurant will, without a doubt, morph into a nightclub. Thus, further acting with impunity. This will significantly increase the risk of crime and nuisance activity for other businesses, residents and families in that area.
Plus, it wouldn’t be fair to other National City businesses that play by the rules. Responsible businesses and the communities they serve deserve protection from unfair business practices by irresponsible alcohol outlet license holders.
The question that every city councilmember should ask is, can the business be trusted based on its track record of not playing by the rules and morphing into a nightclub when in reality it’s a restaurant? Its policies and deceptive practices (like flyers promoting underage youth to party in its “nightclub”) have proven the answer is “no.” We must balance business needs and playing by the rules with the safety and well-being needs of the greater community.
City council, please vote no. Our neighborhood is counting on you.
Campbell lives in National City, where she retired as a municipal employee.
