I am a resident of Hyattsville, MD, and a parent to a wonderful 5-year-old boy. Every week, we visit our local indoor playground - a safe haven for children and families in our community. It is with deep concern that I learned about plans to shut down this essential facility to make way for yet another liquor store.

Our community has been battling issues related to crime and homelessness. Introducing another liquor store would only exacerbate these problems instead of addressing them. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), areas with higher alcohol outlet density have been linked with violent crimes.

Moreover, there are no other indoor playgrounds or child-friendly spaces nearby where families can spend quality time together. The closure of this playground would be an immense loss for all the children who enjoy its facilities regularly, including my son.

We urge the decision-makers involved in this process to consider the negative impacts that such an action could have on our community's well-being. We need more family-oriented facilities, not liquor stores that could potentially contribute further to crime rates and public health issues.

Please join us in saying no to another liquor license application and yes to preserving our cherished indoor playground for children. Sign this petition today!