Archives > Mesquite News > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
City calls election for alcohol sales proposals
By BRIAN PORTER/Managing Editor
A pair of alcohol sales-related propositions have been placed on the Nov. 6 election ballot, which will allow voters to weigh proposals for sale of beer and wine for off-site consumption and the sale of mixed beverages in restaurants by food and beverage certificate holders, removing the use of the private club status.
The Mesquite City Council called for the election as required by law, following verification of the required petition signatures on both propositions.
“I think the benefits of these proposals are our ability to preserve our position in the Metroplex and continue to grow,” said Greg Noschese, co-chair of Save Our Stores, the political action committee formed to support both initiatives.
“We are definitely against it,” said Randy Lawson, treasurer for Save Our Community. “We realize the city council couldn’t do anything about this if they wanted to because of law. They had the signatures they needed by law. We don’t think having beer and wine in Mesquite is a good thing.”
Save Our Stores contends the proposals, and especially the one for the sale of beer and wine for off-site consumption, is about economic development. They point to grocery stores which have closed and city sales tax revenues dropping.
Noschese indicates passing both propositions will result in the continued ability to deliver services and infrastructure which he says the Mesquite community has come to expect. Both the Mesquite fire and police associations have contributed to Save Our Stores.
Save Our Stores was required by law to procure 7,584 petition signatures and Noschese indicates the group had in excess of 8,200 signatures on both propositions.
“We’re really looking forward to getting those who signed the petitions to vote in November,” Noschese said. “We’re very excited with how things look. We are going to be focused on getting out the vote. The way we see it, we have 8,200 supporters now.”
Signatures were verified by the city secretary during a 30-day period which ended Sept. 1 and the city council took action Tuesday to call the election on both propositions.
The difference between the groups seems to be based on economics. Save Our Stores bases its desire to present the proposition to voters on economic development. Save Our Community disputes that stores have closed because of the absence of alcohol sales.
“We feel the next couple of months is going to be very important for us to get our message out about why beer and wine sales is not a good thing,” Lawson said.
Save Our Community formed after petitions began to circulate and plans to meet every two weeks through the election. Information on the group is available at www.saveourcommunities.net. Save Our Stores has not yet launched a Web presence.
The proposition to allow sales of beer and wine for off-site consumption has passed in the neighboring communities of Balch Springs, Dallas, Garland, Rowlett and Sachse. Save Our Stores contends sales tax dollars are being lost to these cities.
Save Our Community debates the statement that Mesquite is already surrounded by cities which have approved beer and wine sales for off-site consumption. Lawson points to Forney and Rockwall as neighboring communities without beer and wine sales. A petition for beer and wine sales for off-site consumption circulated in Sunnyvale this year to procure the necessary signatures to reach the ballot.
With 8,200 plus signatures from registered voters, Save Our Stores indicates it can win the election. Noschese believes the 8,200 votes would be sufficient to win if all were to vote and adds that “there are still plenty of others that didn’t sign the petition which are in support of it. We will work as hard as we can to get everyone to vote.”
Contact Brian Porter at bporter@acnpapers.com or visit www.scntx.com to comment on this story.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
sdp wrote on Sep 8, 2007 3:06 PM:
" we do not need beer or wine sold at stores in our town. we are close enough to other towns that sell this. if they want it they should have to drive, not walk to the corner. our town was enough of low lifes. we don't need a bunch of drunks hanging out around town. "
Duh wrote on Sep 11, 2007 12:02 PM:
" Right so when they drive to the neighboring cities to give them the tax dollars, then they can drive home in our neighborhoods while drinking what they just purchased. Yeah Real Brilliant!. I would rather have them "walking" to the corner than driving thank you.
Look it is this simple, if you don't want to drink then don't, but don't infringe on the rights of those who may want to. This is what makes America great. "
Hutch wrote on Sep 12, 2007 3:58 PM:
" Oh, now I know what makes America Great: The freedom to crap up our city.
Thanks "
Non-Drinker wrote on Sep 12, 2007 10:29 PM:
" Wow!!! I'll make it simple for those of you that either like making things into something they aren't or quite simply don't have the brain cells to understand 1. Beer and Wine being sold in Mesquite isn't a bad thing. In fact it is a good thing. This will generate revenue in this town that we live in. 2. Why go to a neighboring city and watch them benefit when we could 3. Crime is already in Mesquite and law breakers will continue to break the law when the sell of beer and wine is passed. And yes it will be passed and no it won't crap up Mesquite anymore than it already is. And if you don't like it when it does pass as well all know that it will (yeah)...here is a four letter word that doesn't need editing....M-O-V-E!!!
Much love,
Non-drinker "
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
