Rosita’s Billiards Loses Liquor License

Politicians, police officials and neighborhood residents came together Thursday for last call at Rosita’s Billiards on San Fernando Road.

But far from enjoying a final drink at the neighborhood pool hall, Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon, Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar) and the others in attendance were there to revoke the liquor license of an establishment that authorities say has been a trouble spot for years.

Since opening in 1986, Rosita’s has been cited seven times by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for serving alcohol to intoxicated patrons, and police have responded numerous times to complaints of public drunkenness, fights and prostitution, officials said.

The final straw came in November 1995 when, according to police officials, 32-year-old Jose Rodriguez Rojas was shot five times in the bar and his bloody body was allegedly dragged into an adjacent alley by bar employees.

Isidro Urbina, the bar’s owner, was charged with destroying evidence and obstructing justice in the investigation of a killing, police said.

Rojas’ suspected killer, Jorge Beltran, has not been apprehended.

The delay in closing the bar was due to an appeal by Urbina, officials said. Urbina could not be reached for comment.

“This bar was doing business yesterday, but they are shut down today,” said LAPD Sgt. Kris Pitcher, who spearheads Operation ABC, a 2-year-old multi-agency task force focusing on alcohol-related crime. Rosita’s was the fifth bar to be closed by the task force.

“They could remain open as a pool hall, but they’re not likely to do that without an alcohol license because they can’t make any money,” Pitcher said.

Tarcisio Mendoza, who owns a garment business next door, said the bar was the site of frequent fights.

“I think if they close it, it’s better for the community. We don’t need those problems here,” Mendoza said.

Dennis O’Sullivan, program director for People in Progress, a Sun Valley residential recovery facility, said the bar’s owners showed “a complete disregard for the neighborhood.”

“This shows that they can’t put their cash registers ahead of the community,” O’Sullivan said.