move for uncapped liquor licenses

[thespian.livejournal.com]

posted a few minutes ago to the City of Somerville Facebook Page:

At the request of Mayor Curtatone, the Board of Aldermen is submitting a Home Rule Petition to the state that would lift the cap on liquor licenses. The aim is to issue them to restaurants. While other cities and towns including Cambridge can issue unlimited licenses, some restaurants that would like to open here do not because Somerville is capped at 84 licenses. Read the Mayor’s Op Ed here: http://bit.ly/mZFTFr


(now, hopefully they will get in on removing the law that says that mobile food items - food trucks, hot dog stands, etc - are by law in Somerville required to be within 50 yards of a kitchen where the food is prepared (I may have that distance incorrect, but I remember that is why you don't see any of the Boston areas burgeoning food truck scene in Somerville).)

Comments

[ron_newman]

I'd go further and say that the state should not regulate liquor licenses at all. Each town and city should be allowed to issue as many or as few as it wants.

[koloratur.livejournal.com]

Good. While they are at it, they should get rid of taxi medallions and maybe allow people to buy wine at the damn grocery store, already.

[smoterh.livejournal.com]

I believe you'll have the chance to vote for that during the 2012 election.

[maelithil.livejournal.com]

Cosigned.

[artguychris.livejournal.com]

Or at least make the rules the same for all. Why does Cambridge have an unlimited supply? Why does Arlington have the option for beer & wine (no hard liquor) licesnes?

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

State law has a formula for liquor licenses based on population. But a whole lot of towns got the state legislature to give them special exceptions.

[moria923.livejournal.com]

And I wish they'd get rid of that pathetic law that forbids discounts on alcohol, so we could use vouchers for alcohol as well as food.

[smoterh.livejournal.com]

vouchers thingy is a fairly new development compared to the fact that we've been missing out on happy hour for years.

I would have loved to stay in Somerville

[pch1.livejournal.com]

As many of you know I was the bar manager for Gargoyles for the past 15 years. Now I am in the process of opening my own restaurant, and would have loved to stay in the area. Unfortunately due to licensing availability I will be looking into another town. I do not fault the city, or the Mayor on this, as both have been VERY helpful to me. I must add that where I'm looking now I've had the support of the town's selectmen and am excited to start a business there. Still I wish I could have stayed in the area. I wish Joe the best and couldn't agree with him more.