Was it Wrong for the Food Bank and EGPAL to Advocate for Walmart's Liquor License? (POLL)

UPDATE: The Elk Grove Food Bank Services issued a statement Friday afternoon saying, in part:

"My name is Judy Sala. On Wednesday evening, July 10th, I appeared at the Elk Grove City Council meeting representing Elk Grove Food Bank Services. My singular purpose was to speak in support of Wal-Mart and their significant and on-going support to us.

"In my remarks I referenced their application for a liquor license. This was an error on my part. It in no way reflects the position of the Elk Grove Food Bank Services. I sincerely regret any confusion or misunderstanding this many have created.”

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ORIGINAL POST:

In a split vote this week, the Elk Grove City Council told the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Elk Grove Boulevard it could seek a liquor license from the state.

Walmart had to seek the city's approval because state criteria say the area is over-concentrated with licenses and is high-crime, but the police department didn't object to an alcohol license for the store.

At Wednesday's Elk Grove City Council meeting, representatives from the Elk Grove Food Bank Services and the Elk Grove Police Activities League spoke in favor of Walmart getting an alcohol permit for its grocery store, citing Walmart's support of community groups like theirs, the Sacramento Business Journal reported.

A local blogger and community activist said selling alcohol doesn't mesh well with the mission of a group that helps the city's struggling residents and another that seeks to keep kids out of trouble with the law.

"And for one of our most important agencies to advocate for the sale of alcohol, in my opinion, is a bit hypocritical," Connie Conley, founder of the Elk Grove Community Connection, said in an email.  "Frankly I wouldn't want the food bank to benefit from any alcohol sales."

Elk Grove News said the support from food bank and police activities league representatives showed "incredibly poor judgment."

Marie Jachino, the food bank's Executive Director, responded that "no one is more aware of the issues of alcohol abuse in society" than the food bank.

"A representative attended the Elk Grove City Council hearing NOT to speak to the merits of a liquor license," Jachino wrote in a statement. "I believe this is the job of the Elk Grove Police Chief. We attended to speak to the fact that Walmart has been a strong community partner and corporate citizen of Elk Grove."

She noted donations of "considerable food and clothing" from Walmart.

Kendra Lewis, Executive Director of the Elk Grove Police Activities League, declined to comment for this story.

A spokeswoman from Walmart has not yet returned a request for comment but in an earlier statement said an alcohol license at the store would allow Walmart to "provide a broader assortment of products to our customers and the one-stop shopping convenience they expect." Walmart also has a number of safeguards for alcohol sales, she said previously.

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What do you think? Does it matter which groups support an alcohol license for Walmart? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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