Data shows mayor hyped crime claim against Hispanic-owned business

When the mayor of Mount Vernon, Wash., requested that a liquor license be denied, he claimed it had to do with the proposed location of the business. However, when Kate Martin, of the Skagit Valley Herald checked with the local police department, the numbers didn’t add up.

“Too many 911 calls have been made from that location, he said. But an analysis of information from the Mount Vernon Police Department does not support the mayor’s claim. Since 2000, police have responded to 16 calls at 517 S. First St., the proposed location of Calle Tacos Tequila. Conversely, police have responded to 471 incidents at Draft Pic’s, the sports bar directly across the street at 516 S. First St.”

After this story originally ran, the mayor did issue a one-sentence statement to say that he no longer opposed the business’ location.