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Small deed makes a large impact on local community

A UNLV instructor’s David versus Goliath struggle against a major retailer may have saved his neighborhood from a downward spiral.

Dean Dupalo, a part-time political science instructor, lobbied against a local Wal-Mart acquiring a liquor license Wednesday, citing the effects of crime and drunk driving in his neighborhood.

“My neighborhood experiences numerous challenges,” Dupalo wrote in his initial letter of protest.

According to Dupalo, Nellis Boulevard, Stewart Avenue, Charleston Boulevard and Lamb Boulevard surround his neighborhood with liquor outlets.

Dupalo first lobbied the Las Vegas Planning Commission by sending the commission a letter to be read on the record, as he was unable to attend the meeting due to academic obligations.

“Our neighborhood, primarily Stewart Place, has a disproportionately high number of bars, liquor outlets, markets that sell liquor, restaurants that sell liquor and convenience stores that sell liquor,” Dupalo stated in his letter.

“I have no intention of demonizing Wal-Mart. I do appreciate their safeguards. It is nonetheless too much for our neighborhood.”

Despite listing the prevalence of alcohol outlets and the crime and social problems alcohol brings to Stewart Place, his objections were ignored and the Commission voted 7-0 to recommend that Wal-Mart be licensed by the Las Vegas City Council.

“I sent a four-page outline to the committee. In less than one minute they discarded my neighborhood,” said Dupalo, who watched as his concerns read off-screen in the televised meeting.

When the time came for the City Council to vote on the matter, Dupalo knew he had to be as clear as possible if he was to save Stewart Place.

“They don’t know my neighborhood. They don’t know the price that we pay,” Dupalo said. “Do you see 85 liquor outlets in Anthem? In Summerlin? There is a correlation between crime and alcohol.”

It’s that correlation that worried Dupalo the most. Dupalo cited the work of University of California, Riverside researcher Robert Nash Parker in addressing the City Council.

According to Parker’s research home page, “Parker used Geographical Information System (GIS) technology and found that the higher the density of alcohol outlets within a geographic area, the more likely the area was to be plagued by gang violence.”

The data greatly bolstered Dupalo’s argument.

“I’m not against drinking,” Dupalo said. “I’m against over- saturation in the neighborhood. I’m against the scars, the DUI, the cars, the bottles, the high crime rate.”

Dupalo, a 28-year resident of the area, has worked to improve the quality of life in his neighborhood many times in the past.

“It took three years to obtain speed bumps in my neighborhood. People used to speed and drive into the wash behind the neighborhood. We had a gate installed [for the wash],” Dupalo said, adding that speeding endangered area families in the area and that the wash attracted dangerous and often criminal activities.

“It’s a working class neighborhood. Most residents can’t make it to the [City Council] meeting when they’re working 8-to-5 shifts,” Dupalo said. “But the neighbors agreed with me.”

To stand up against this latest threat to the area, Dupalo had to take the City Council on a tour of Stewart Place.

Dupalo noted that within approximately a 1.2-mile radius of his housing development, at least 85 businesses are licensed to sell liquor.

“I asked, ‘How many liquor outlets are too many in 1.2 miles?’” Dupalo said.

He made a list of these businesses and attached to a neighborhood map showing the concentration of liquor-selling establishments in red highlights.

“Now, a department store was going to become a high-volume liquor store,” Dupalo said. “Just adding fuel to the fire, liquor to the crime rate. What we need are more parks and recreation centers.”

With his neighborhood hanging in the balance, statistics and maps weren’t nearly enough.

“You expect danger out there, but not at home.” Dupalo said. “But DUI against your house? Your own parked car?”

To add to the impact of his statistics, Dupalo presented a packet of 34 photos showing what he calls the “scars” left behind by DUI, ranging from damage to residential properties, utilities and Dupalo’s own car, which had been struck by a drunk driver.

“This is my neighborhood,” Dupalo said. “This is Stewart Place. I showed them the suffering my neighborhood goes through due to alcohol-related crashes.”

Dupalo’s photo tour, map, his staggering list of liquor outlets and most importantly– his testimony, had its desired effect.

“I visually drove them through the neighborhood,” Dupalo said.

Following this public comment from Dupalo, Mayor Pro-Tempore Gary Reese moved to deny Wal-Mart’s liquor license. The City Council voted 7-0 in favor of denying the license.

“It was a proud moment for my neighborhood,” Dupalo said. “Hopefully it sets a precedent for oversaturation of liquor outlets.”

Dupalo said that if anyone hopes to fight for a cause they feel is right, they should pursue it the right way. He took on the store by showing what was best for his neighborhood, without disrespect or pejorative words for Wal-Mart.

“Fight based on the merits [of a cause]. You don’t have to be political. Go to the merits of discussion. I showed the neighborhood the facts,” Dupalo said.”Facts are overwhelming.”

[EDITORS NOTE: An earlier version of this story falsely reported Dean Dupalo's first name as David. The Rebel Yell regrets this error.]