SLA Chief Quits

Joshua Toas, the CEO of the New York State Liquor Authority, quietly resigned last week. Local community groups loved Toas, a man greatly credited for cleaning up the much-maligned SLA. According to Susan Finley (Flatiron Alliance), "He was behind the movement to clean up the SLA, which was totally out of control. He actually came to meetings and took phone calls." It's amazing that just returning phone calls is enough to make you a hero. Immediate fall out? Probably not much. Expect the issuing of liquor licenses in the City to still be restricted, due to the backlash of the Community Boards. However, any job at the SLA is about as cozy as you can get, so we expect Gov. Patterson to look to fill it on the quickness. NYC may then see an increase in licenses at the City tries to stay above the economic downtown the only way it knows how - through the bottle.

· SHOCK AS NY BOOZE BIG QUITS [NY POST]