Story Created:
Aug 19, 2010 at 12:21 PM PST
Story Updated:
Aug 19, 2010 at 12:21 PM PST
SOUTH GATE — A restaurant/nightclub known as El Taconazo, 2751 Firestone Blvd., is out of business following actions by the City Council Aug. 10 to revoke its license.
The vote was 5-0 after a long public hearing during which allegations of illegal activities were made by South Gate police and other law enforcement agencies.
The hearing was started July 27 and continued to Aug. 10 at the request of Sulma Serrano, who has owned the business since 2009.
The council revoked three licenses which had been issued to her in the past year. They included a permit to run a restaurant and serve alcohol, to operate a jukebox and for two pool tables, Finance Director Mike Matsumoto said.
The operating license was renewed for a year July 1 and the other two were renewed Jan. 1, 2010 through Dec. 31, 210, Matsumoto said.
But in a written report to the City Council, City Manager Ron Bates said South Gate Police and other law enforcement agencies, including the state Department of Alcohol Beverage Control, conducted undercover operations in February and March. The latter agency has also revoked the state’s permit to sell alcoholic beverages, Bates said.
Officers testified that they saw and were subject to solicitations by employees to purchase drinks, which is illegal, as well as alleged sale of narcotics. A lesser charge was using a disc jockey for entertainment without a city permit.
On July 1, the council received written reports of the alleged violations from South Gate Police Sgt. Jim Teeples as well as a Bell Gardens police officer and an investigator from the ABC, Bates said.
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