With one abstaining the vote on the “trial” Drinking in Public resolution passed with Mayor Butch Berry voting for it to break the tie – Mayor Berry has been a strong advocate of these districts since the enabling ordinance was passed 6 years ago. He has gone to businesses and convinces them to go along with proposed districts.
Mayor Berry asked council member Bob Thomas to create a committee of bars and restaurants to see how they felt about a drinking in public district. There was no citizens’ committee asked for by the mayor.
I did an anonymous survey of the retailers in the proposed district and the result was 52% against 48% for, again this was six years ago. Some of the bars were not in favor of the idea but Mayor Berry visited them and convinced them to “give it a try.”
I’m convinced that if a permanent Drinking in Public District comes up before the council it will be presented as a resolution. Resolutions cannot be repealed by a ballot measure! The voters will be ignored again.
Many good arguments were heard by the council before the vote, but I think that those on the council who voted for the resolution didn’t think those who came to voice their opposition were representative of a majority of the voters. I find this strange since there have been two ballot issues that citizens took their time and money to place on the ballot!
There was a comment by another member of the council who said, “the permanent entertainment district downtown was defeated by only 54 votes.” Well 54 votes in a voting public of 900 possible voters is a significant number!
This is an election year, remember how members voted on this important issue!
Harry Meyer
Hahahaha!! You conducted a “survey”! I’m sure you did, Harry. You’re just another violent, felonious, left wing clown.
Yet you’re stealing this vote from THE PEOPLE and essentially calling them too stupid to decide for themselves with your vote, Harry. Put it on the ballot.