Published: August 20, 2009 06:32 pm      

Liquor petitions begin to appear in city; anti-forces getting organized

PICAYUNE — The debate over a local liquor referendum is heating up and petitions are circulating that would force a vote on whether to allow liquor by-the-drink at restaurants in Picayune.

Forces against legalization also are getting organized, said the Rev. Arlis F. Grice.

Petitions have been reportedly placed in three businesses in the downtown area. The Item verified so far that there are petitions at Cafe Amore, 321 East Canal Street, Crescent Cafe, 728 West Canal and another business whose owners said they did not want the store’s name used.

Reportedly there are petitions at other businesses, too, but the Item was not able to confirm it before press time. Also, some individuals are reported to be circulating petitions.

The possibility of having the liquor-by-the-drink option came about when an amendment was added to a bill in the Mississippi Legislature by state Sen. Sid Albritton of Picayune during the last session. The bill was approved in April.

The amendment was tacked onto a bill filed by other legislators seeking to have an area in Tishomingo County declared a resort area so that liquor could be served there.

In addition to Ålbritton’s amendment, other amendments from legislators in Pearl and Flowood were added, giving residents in those towns the option of voting in liquor by the drink.

Flowood recently passed an ordinance approving liquor by-the-drink, but supporters in Pearl have not been able to get together the number of signatures needed to place it on a ballot there, said Jimmy Porter of Jackson, director of the Christian Action Committee, which is associated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

His group keeps tabs on moral and cultural issues, such as the liquor issue, in the State Legislature.

Porter kept up with the delicate negotiations that went on in the State Legislature over passage of the latest bill that included Picayune.

“You must understand that the State of Mississippi is still under a prohibition law, and these bills are nothing more than a way to get around that law and find a loophole in the law,” he told the Item.

State representatives Mark Formby of Picayune and Herb Frierson of Poplarville opposed the legislation in the House, and Porter said that it was their efforts that resulted in placing a provision in the law that would require a vote inside the city limits of Picayune, a last effort to water down the bill when they saw it was going to pass.

The law could have been drafted to mandate acceptance of legalization unless citizens petitioned to have it stopped, which makes the procedure easier for supporters and tougher on those who oppose legalization.

“Understand, they opposed it; they thought it should be voted on countywide, but they had to settle for this or get nothing,” Porter said.

“You will find always that behind these efforts are the liquor lobby and developers; they always have an interest in it. The biggest lobby up here (in the State Legislature) is the liquor lobby,” he said.

However, the issue is not that simple. Supporters of liquor by-the-drink say that allowing restaurants to serve liquor will boost a slumping economy in Picayune, attract upscale restaurants and hotels and motels to locate here, and help keep residents in town when dining out.

They also contend that allowing the serving of alcoholic beverages in restaurants and hotels and motels is the least obtrusive way of allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Liquor stores and bars will be prohibited and the sale will be strictly controlled and allowed only in the delineated establishments.

There has been a big influx of Louisiana residents since Katrina, and they are used to living with the presence of alcoholic beverages.That has changed the complexion of voters who will be casting ballots in any election, supporters say.

Representative Formby has been against the bill from the beginning. “I take a drink every now and then myself, but the way this is being handled is not right. Pearl River County has already voted dry, and if we are going to vote on it, it should be countywide. There is no way Picayune should be labelled a resort area,” he said recently, shortly after the measure passed and was signed into law by the governor.

Albritton’s amendment originally included the subdivisions of Hide-A-Way Lake, Lake Hillsdale and Heritage Oaks along with Picayune. When the bill came out of the legislative mill, however, only Picayune was left in his amendment.

In every election held here on this issue there allegedly has been erroneous information concerning exactly what the law will allow if liquor is voted in, supporters of the effort say.

A spokesman for the state ABC in Jackson, who agreed to talk only if his name was not used, said that the statute under which Picayune would operate, if liquor by-the-drink is approved, would allow alcoholic beverages be served under four circumstances: — real restaurants, catering, hotels and private clubs that have been in existence for more than five years, such as a VFW or a golf club.

There also would be distance requirements that would have to be followed concerning proximity to churches, schools, kindergartens and funeral homes.

“There would be no package stores or daiquiri shops allowed, or outright bars,” he said.

Albritton, who pushed the measure through the Legislature, said that he understands there are people who don’t agree with the measure, “and I respect that,” he added. “But on the other hand, I have constituents that felt the opposite way, and I have to represent them, too.”

“I know the moral arguments, but I thought this was the best way to get the economic benefits of it with the least aspects of the downside. It will be restricted to solely restaurants and there will be no package stores or bars,” he said.

“We need the economic development aspects of this,” he added. “Right now a lot of our tax dollars are flowing into Louisiana because we live so close to the line, and we need that revenue, especially the city of Picayune.”

He said that in the last vote on liquor, the county by a small majority voted against liquor while Picayune voted in favor of it by a slight majority. “If the people don’t want it, they can vote it down, but I do know that it works to boost the economy of other areas where it has been approved. I have seen it work,” he said.

Albritton said that he has had a few negative comments from constituents but has not been “bombarded” with criticism. “I have also had people who don’t drink say they want it here to stop the loss of tax revenue to Louisiana. It is an emotional issue, there is no doubt,” he said.

However, Formby said, “Alcohol is addressed in the state code, and this process is nothing but a way of shirking the issue, getting around the law. I feel like the people of Pearl River County have voted on this issue before and have spoken. The vote should be county wide, and not just in Picayune.”

Petitioners must get 20 percent of qualified electors inside the city limits to sign the petitions. They will then turn them into the city clerk, who will verify the names on the petitions. If the petitions meet that qualification, the city council will then set a special election.

Angel Cosmy, owner of Cafe Amore, said he favored the change and provided a petition for his customers to sign because of economic circumstances. “You have all these people going across the state line and making these purchases and we are losing money on it,” he said.

He added, “I have people, customers, who every weekend go to the Coast or to Louisiana and eat, and we lose all that business. It would generate taxes here that could be used to upgrade our streets, schools and other projects. It’s just common sense. Just think of all of the lost tax revenues and dollars that could go to creating jobs here for our people.”

The Rev. Grice, who is now retired and is interim pastor at Unity Baptist Church, said a group connected with the Pearl River Baptist Association, met Tuesday night at Roseland Park Baptist Church to organize for what they believe will be another fight against legalization of liquor.

Grice was for a long time pastor of Goodyear Baptist Church and has led more campaigns against legalization efforts here than any other person.

“I am against it because there is a great possibility that legalization in Picayune will eventually cause someone’s death through a car crash or accident. I also believe that the Word of God is against it.”

Asked if he believes drinking is a sin, he replied, “No, I don’t say drinking is a sin, but I believe it is a sin to get drunk, and not know what you are doing. That is a sin. It’s abuse, and there will be abuse. It results in having to hire more police, costs from its impact in ruined lives will rise and in the long-run it will cost us more money.”

Louis Galiano said he favored the legalization for economic reasons. “There is a big loss of revenue; I am not a drinker but I know the value of a dollar,” he said.

He said revenue from property taxes has maxed out and that a new source of revenue is needed. He added he believed legalization would bring in more industry and businesses. “If you don’t want to drink, nobody is forcing you to,” he said.

He added, “There’s more beer drinkers running around this town than any place I have seen. There’s beer cans all over the streets. You can get just as drunk on beer as anything else.”

Beer is legal in Picayune, although the county and Poplarville remain totally dry