Shock as NY Booze Big Quits - NY Post
April 28, 2008

By SUSAN EDELMAN and ANGELA MONTEFINISE

April 27, 2008 -- The CEO of the State Liquor Authority quietly submitted his resignation last week, shocking and upsetting city community groups who touted him as a long-awaited reformer.

Joshua Toas is leaving the SLA as of May 22, according to a short announcement sent to agency employees by Chairman Daniel Boyle. The letter credited Toas with serving in an "admirable and professional manner" since his appointment in November 2005.

SLA spokesman Bill Crowley said there were no immediate plans to replace Toas.

The news of the sudden resignation stunned community groups.

"This is very troubling, very worrying," said Susan Finley, co-founder of the 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."

The SLA revoked 239 liquor licenses in 2007 and 203 in 2006. In 2003, only 88 licenses were pulled.

Toas, who was on vacation last week and unavailable for comment, was the first CEO hired by the SLA board in decades. The hiring was widely thought to be a response to criticism from then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.