The City of Janesville has run dry of liquor store licenses, and Wal-Mart has asked the council to reconsider the Janesville quota based ordinance. Current ordinances allow the city to issue one liquor license per 3,500 residents. All 18 licenses are being used.
Several smaller businesses have fought tooth and nail with the council over the transferring of licenses and at least one other has requested a retail liquor license at their wine shop, only to be denied based on law. Wal-Mart walks into town and the council is prepared to throw ordinances out the window. They may as well hand over the Janesville Ordinance Book to Wal-Mart executives and allow them to re-write it as they see fit.
Other options include changing the quota or eliminating it altogether. It would not surprise me if the city changed the quota to allow only one additional license just for Wal-Mart, either way Wal-Mart will have a license. However, I don’t see how a giant like Wal-Mart can benefit a community by creating more access to booze than we already have, and it certainly can’t help the loyal entrepreneurs who have given their all following the law as it is written. Imagine if a regular guy like myself approached the council and wanted to open a liquor store, it would be denied in a second and they would refuse to change the ordinance.
America has changed dramatically and is now the land of unequal opportunity. The economic expansion and growth benefit is a worn out excuse for letting big business run roughshod over laws.
Since the council can quickly wipe out ordinances they can just as easily create new ones. If it were up to me, I would create a special liquor warehouse license just for new entry giants and bigboxes like Wal-Mart. The new warehouse ordinance would be in addition to the existing quota ordinance and pay a Janesville only tax of 1% per bottle, and this revenue can go toward the Janesville School District. This is too forward, too liberal and makes too much sense.
2 comments:
I agree with you. They shouldn't bend the rules for anybody. But, they have and they will continue to bend the rules. I also, think that the formula they use is outdated. They need to upgrade the formula. I am pro business be it the franchises or the mom and pop stores. But, they all need to play by the rules that are in place. I don't agree with all of the rules that are in place concerning businesses. But, until they are changed we have to abide by them. Sam's club is going to sell a ton of alcohol which means more income for the city through the taxes. Alcohol makes a lot of money for the city and the state. They tax the snot out of alcohol and tobbacco. So, I guess that is a plus in this arguement. The city/state will make money on the taxes. But, to bend the rules is wrong.
You know, I wouldn't be such a hardliner on the council if it weren't for their zero-tolerance attitude towards its regular residents regarding ordinances. Wal-Mart should be the ones jumping through hoops not the city. Wal-Marts single license will equal at least five or more mom/pop licenses. Create a warehouse license just for Wal-Mart with a separate tax for schools. Then we would see the community stewards they say they are become reality.
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