It doesn't matter who was there first, all that matters is who is there at the time the application is filed for the license. I'm all for questioning rules, but to grant licenses on an individual basis as you have suggested would open the city up to lawsuits and questions over who is in whose pocket. Honestly I agree it would have made good sense for him to have applied for a license when he first opened, who wants to shoot pool and not have a beer? But the city can not show special preference just because he's been downtown for so long.
As far as your church argument goes refer to page 21 paragraph (C) which covers the issuance of a special event license to a church or private school. Taverns vs. Day-cares would require looking into but I'd guess the tavern was there first.
"Does the Community Care Center house people over-night? Most of the billiard hall business is done during evening hours, and on weekends--and inside his own building."
I honestly love this question, please allow me to bend it a bit for my purpose:
Does the High School house students over-night? Cause most bars do their business at night and on weekends.
Pretty much the same question right? Just a different business and license block right? Would you want a bar 4' away from the high school?
I really do understand his frustration at not getting a license after putting so much into his business, but rather than waste his energy whining about so-and-so having one and not him, wouldn't it make sense to change what he could to become eligible for a license?
I know in the past he's talked about not having much extra money, but he'd also mentioned that when he'd applied that he was going to be serving food. If he could get the food end of it up and running and producing income to add to the table income he'd be able to show that the potential alcohol sales wouldn't be as big of a factor in the overall scheme of things.
This is my last post on the subject as it has taken me too long to get through this one. I have no preference as to whether or not he gets a license, seeing as how I don't shoot pool or drink away from home, but I don't like that he/you seems to think the city owes him a liquor license.