Proponents of repealing the ordinance see a double standard, where gas stations cannot sell alcohol but businesses such as wholesale retailer Costco can, because it subdivided its location into two parcels: selling gas at one and groceries at the other, creating an immunity to the city's ordinance. They claim that not allowing gas stations to sell alcohol gives an unfair competitive edge to stores like Costco.

In addition, they argue, city and state rules already restrict the hours, locations and number of businesses in an area that can sell alcohol. Some say alcohol sales at area gas stations would also increase the city's sales tax revenue.

One of the biggest backers of the ordinance change is Robinson Oil Corporation, which owns and operates 28 Rotten Robbie gas stations and convenience stores in the city.

After a vocal and impassioned debate, the council directed the city attorney to draft a proposed ordinance and bring it before the council in 90 days.

Mayor Ron Gonzales is urging the council to support lifting the ban on food and alcohol sales at gas stations, saying a new ordinance could potentially aid his plan to increase jobs in San Jose by making it easier and more attractive to do business in the city.

"We are really going to have to start walking the talk or just stop talking about it," he has been quoted as saying about the issue.

But here in Almaden Valley, we've already heard of one example of an unintended consequence if the ban is lifted.

Oil corporations, which have control over most of the service stations in town, are already beginning to salivate over the possibility of a new source of revenue. Gas stations with existing mini-marts could easily take advantage of the change, clearing out some space in soft-drink coolers to make room for 12-packs of Bud and Coors Light.

Hank Rullhausen, who has owned the Chevron on Almaden Expressway at Redmond Avenue since 1985, has been told by ChevronTexaco that if the ban on alcohol is lifted, it will make him build a convenience store where his three car-repair service bays currently sit.

If ChevronTexaco decides to go through with the change, Rullhausen—who would have no say in the matter—would have to lay off some 23 employees, most of them mechanics. The new convenience store would employ a much smaller staff of low-paid counter workers.

Rullhausen says his station handles some 600 work orders a month, which shows the need for a trusted repair shop. His mechanics may well find other jobs, but they most likely will not be in Almaden Valley.

So do we really need more places in town to buy alcohol? Just a walk across the parking lot from Rullhausen's Chevron are both a 7-Eleven and a liquor store.

If ChevronTexaco can decide that it wants a convenience store at the corner of Almaden Expressway and Redmond, what's to stop it from making the same choice at the other 28 Chevron stations in San Jose? And what's to stop other oil corporations from doing the same? If we are not careful, we will soon find ourselves with dozens of choices if we want to stop to pick up a hotdog and a beer, but left without any neighborhood mechanics.

We believe that lifting that ban on alcohol sales at gas stations is a bad move all the way around, and encourage the council to keep the ban in place.