Liquor Licenses Sped Up on Cuomo’s Watch

By C. Zawadi Morris and Amy Sara Clark

Governor Andrew Cuomo boasts that, since he took office, the average waiting time to obtain a license from the State Liquor Authority has been cut in half – from six months to between two and three months – under his administration, reports TheTimes Union.   
"By quickly and efficiently processing applications for new businesses, the State Liquor Authority is assisting New York's vibrant alcohol retail and manufacturing sectors, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and increased economic development across New York state,” said Cuomo.   

But some say more still needs to be done, including Assemblyman Frank Skartados, who is a former restaurateur: "The success and failure of businesses depends on timing, and time is money," he said. "It continues to be a work in progress, as far as I'm concerned."   

Many a Prospect Heights bar owner would no doubt agree. It is common for businesses to wait months or even more than a year for a liquor license. 

Washington Avenue's Tooker Alley, for example, waited six months for their license.  Sunshine Co., which needed an exemption because it is across the street from a church, waited more than a year.

Some come up with a secondary business plan in the space so they can pay the rent. Both Little Zelda on Franklin Avenue and Sunshine Co. on Washington opened as coffee shops while they waited for liquor licenses. 

Como boasted that a lot has been done-- the backlog of unprocessed applications for obtaining a license from the SLA has dropped from 750 from the time he took office to 194 this month, with several programs helping to expedite the process.