Gasoline-Alcohol Compromise OKd

SACRAMENTO — Legislation that would prevent blanket local bans on sale of alcoholic beverages and gasoline at the same stores was passed Thursday by the Senate and sent to Gov. George Deukmejian.

With little debate, the Senate voted 26 to 3 to endorse the controversial measure by Assemblyman Gary A. Condit (D-Ceres) that would repeal at least 30 local bans adopted by cities after Aug. 1, 1985.

Although local governments could not ban all simultaneous sales of gasoline and liquor across-the-board, they still would retain the power to prohibit individual stores, on a case-by-case basis, from selling both products.

The bill, called a compromise by its supporters, has the backing of the politically powerful gasoline and convenience store industries, which contributed more than $700,000 to legislators last session. The California League of Cities, fearing that the industry groups could win passage of even stronger legislation, is also supporting the bill.

“I think we have arrived at a middle ground that everybody can agree with,” said Sen. Ralph C. Dills (D-Gardena) in urging his colleagues to vote for the bill.

But Glendale Mayor Ginger Bremberg, one of the bill’s most outspoken foes, said in a telephone interview that she is still adamantly opposed to the legislation, which would eliminate the ban adopted by Glendale last year.

The bill, Bremberg said, represents a “vicious usurpation of home rule . . . by a series of corporations who advertise that they are good neighbors and citizens and then open the doors for young people to drive into gas stations and buy liquor.”

The legislation is also opposed by the California PTA, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and Los Angeles City Atty. James Hahn, who argue that local officials should have the power to decide whether the sales should be prohibited.

No Attempt to Stop It

Nevertheless, there was no attempt by opponents of the bill to stop it on the Senate floor.

“There is still opposition from local (officials who) feel that any preemption is bad,” acknowledged Senate Republican Leader Ken Maddy of Fresno, a backer of the bill. “But I will tell you that with a very controversial issue and a very delicate issue, this compromise has been received very well.”

In Costa Mesa, where the city’s ban on simultaneous sales would also have been wiped out by the bill, the City Council moved earlier this week to revoke the prohibition itself, City Manager Allan Roeder said in an interview.

Staff writer Carl Ingram also contributed to this story.