Our Lady of the Rosary of Talpa Church in Boyle Heights opened its doors on Feb. 15 to more than 300 residents concerned about the proliferation of liquor stores, bars and public drunkenness in their Boyle Heights neighborhood near schools, churches and parks.

A large number of these establishments allow public drinking and intoxication and the sale of alcohol to minors, residents told L.A. City Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa and LAPD Captain William Fierro.

Residents complained that the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) which regulates these establishments have been unresponsive to their complaints. They asserted that one liquor store in the area recently received four violations for selling alcohol to minors, yet the store received no suspension or revocation of their license.

"In other areas like Inglewood one offense like this leads to an immediate 30-day suspension of the store's license," said community organizer Rosalie Gurrola, a member of St. Mary Church in Boyle Heights. "We just want the same level of enforcement as other communities."

Community residents and the Pacific Institute for Community Organization (PICO) recently conducted a survey of the area in which they walked a six-block area and counted 23 liquor stores, bars, mini-marts and restaurants that sell alcohol.

Longtime resident Jose Carrillo documented the situation with a slide show showing the establishments. As he clicked through each slide he had the audience count along with him through all 23 slides.

"This is not what I want for my children and my community," said Carillo.

Residents testified that families in the community don't feel comfortable using the parks, saying, "There are bottles littering the ground, high school age kids drinking in the parks during school hours, people smoking marijuana and engaging in numerous illicit activities."

Local business owner Peter Romero called on the LAPD to reinstate bicycle patrols in the parks. "Without regular patrols the parks will never be safe for our families to use," he said.

"We won't accept that there are not enough police to go around," said Vincentian Father Margarito Martinez, pastor of Our Lady of Talpa Church. "Why is there enough police in Santa Monica?"

LAPD Captain Fierro responded with a promise that the bike patrols will be back on the street by the end of the week.

"I promise I will leave them on the streets working the problems you bring to us today," said Fierro to loud applause from the audience.

Councilman Villaraigosa told the community that he is working with the ABC and the city attorney's office to address the problem of enforcement of liquor violations on the problematic establishments.

"But we can't do this without your help," he said. "The city attorney needs evidence and all of you here today can act as witnesses" to the illegal activity in the area.

Residents also called on the government representatives to address the issue of speeding automobiles in the area by installing speed bumps on heavily traveled streets.

"Speeding traffic around schools, parks and churches is a problem in this area said resident Lydia Ortega. "It poses a danger to children and is jeopardizing our entire community."