PROHIBITION OF LIQUOR SALES IN LUDINGTON ON TAP FOR CITY COUNCIL 1/10/11

[AQUAMAN]

Recently the MLCC, (Michigan Liquor Control Commission), announced a statewide opening of liquor sales on Sunday mornings to start today. This would affect the early sales before noon of liquor and beer on Sundays only, and would pertain to eight local businesses in the City of Ludington.                                                                                                                                   The Chief of Public Safety and local commissioner, Gary Castonia, backed by Brent Scott and Paul Peterson, have decided to STOP the state law from happening in Ludington. Monday night a vote will be taken to decide the fate of the law via a local ordinance from the Ludington City Council.                                                                                                                                       I'm trying to figure out why this is such an important issue to the City of Ludington at this time, especially when unemployment, and infrastructure problems are at an all time high. Plus the fact that the State of Michigan has no problems with it.                                                        Given the fact that most Boozers are going to be asleep with a hangover on Sunday mornings anyhow, what's the Big Deal? Most people are in church, asleep, or doing their favorite hobby Sundays, along with the TV mix of sports. So, does anyone here see a problem with these State approved liquor sales, or is it just me? Thanks.

[XLFD]

I saw this article in the paper where it was noted that most stores ouside of the City of Ludington's borders (Walmart, Hamlin Grocery, six others) were not prohibited by their respective townships to sell on Sunday morning and were planning on doing so.  Meanwhile, a couple of ex-LEOs and an ex-newspaperman in the Public Safety/Public Utilities Committee wish to deny that privilege to those merchants foolish enough to sell within the city limits.

It doesn't matter whether you believe in 'prohibition' or whether it is 'right' to sell on Sunday mornings, it is a matter of whether you believe it is the 'right' of our merchants to be able to sell on Sunday mornings without 'prohibition' by City Hall. 

This is totally anti-competitive-- we are a community that caters to tourists, and restricting any sale during weekend hours, even Sunday morning, shows that we have little concern for our businesspeople and even less for their ability to make a living.  If you were planning on opening a business in the city limits would you want to deal with a local government that has invoked such a power in the past?

I don't have a brand in the fire on this (I'm not a merchant or have ever brought alcohol on Sunday morning), but Mr. Stratton of Best Choice Market and others are expected to confront the council on Monday.  Good luck.

[Willy]

I see no reason to deny Ludington businesses from selling on Sunday morning. Like Aquaman said. the drunks will be sleeping it off Sunday mornings.

[AQUAMAN]

Thanks guys, as I see it, it's just another "step backwards" for Ludington. If anyone here is old enough to remember, the LCC also voted NO to the new law of turning right on red light laws, way back in the day, about 20 years ago. We were the ONLY MUNICIPALITY in the STATE to override this new law. And what did it get the City, nothing, but stupidity and ignorance of State mandated traffic laws. WTF are these guys thinking? Except to think that maybe the WHOLE CITY should be PROHIBITED in ALCOHOL consumption at some future Date? Let's all go back to Victorian Days, when everyone was a Saint, eh?  

[XLFD]

Don't forget all the Lions fans who need to prepare for their team getting shellacked in the early afternoon of most fall and early winter Sundays, RJE. 

But seriously, I could see reunions and other Sunday afternoon shindigs that feature adults getting together needing to buy alcoholic bevs during this time.  It seems rather capricious to restrict the selling of a legally permitted commodity on a certain time of a certain day, even though some religions may prefer that.

[AQUAMAN]

Strength comes in numbers, remember this at the LCC meetings. The Monday nite vote was unanimous in favor of selling liquor Sunday mornings 7-12,  like the MSLC Law of the State mandated. But, only because the merchants, some 8 of them, came to their own rescue, and made their case. They actually "showed up and made their Case". That's what made Castonia, Peterson, and Scott "back down", not good judgment and common sense. This should be a valuable lesson of how the system works down there at  City Hall. Participate, or be pathetic and be peed on.