Wednesday, November 1, 2000

Liquor by the drink is going to be voted in on Nov. 7 unless the people of Fayetteville are more aptly notified and those who are in opposition to it have the full facts. I personally have been watching this issue for several years trying to keep up with the possibility of it appearing on the ballot. Boy! Was I taken by surprise when I read just this past few weeks that the petition had been approved and it in fact would be on the ballot.

I wonder if the people who signed this petition realize the full ramifications of their support? I am personally against alcohol in any form, as a matter of moral choice; but after having been "run out" of my previous neighborhood 12 years ago because of the decline of the community, I feel strongly against this referendum on a property value basis.

Also, 28 years ago, I was severely injured in an automobile accident after leaving a movie with my small children on a Friday night. I ended up with a broken neck and the drunk driver received a $33 fine. So, of course, I oppose people drinking and getting behind the wheel of their car. I have been to our fairly new emergency room recently and had to wait several hours for treatment. I feel that even now they are overburdened and I foresee the need for increased staff and trained personnel in trauma which will surely follow increased drinking and driving.

I believe that this petition has taken many by surprise and others will be caught off guard by the fact that the petitioners only submitted their signatures just days before the deadline. Personally, I don't think this was a mistake; and having it coincide with a major general election and requiring people to stand in line and vote at two different voting places was no mistake either! Those who stand to gain will vote what do you have to lose?

You must vote at your regular polling place and then vote regarding this referendum at the Old Depot, 250 East Lanier Ave. just above the now defunct "Teen Center." (Remember that problem?).

It will be easy to vote it into law, but it will be next to impossible to ever vote it out again. If we care about our way of life and the safety of our children and the value of our property, surely we must consider the full impact of this referendum.

Liquor by the drink will mean a lot of dads will not come home from work in the evening; there will be an increase in domestic violence and victimized families. Property values will be jeopardized; it will open the door for drugs, prostitution and other "adult" entertainment.

I wonder, of the names on the petition, how many are property owners. Many of whom, I feel will not be living in the city a few years from now. But those who own property will be left holding the bag. What will this bag hold? Drunk drivers on the same highways as our children going to the bowling alley, skating rink, or movies on Friday and Saturday nights. I understand the author of this petition will soon be moving out of the city into the county! I have made my passion quite clear; what is his? I don't want to be "up-scaled" like Atlanta and Buckhead; if I did I would move there.

Are we willing to sacrifice our semi-rural way of living so that a few can make profits by attracting "upscale" restaurants to line their pockets? Even though I have been assured by the city manager there will be a tight lid on the situation, can we all say "Teen Center"?

For the last 12 years, I have seen people trying to bring Buckhead to Fayetteville. Buckhead has already had eight murders this year; the traffic is a nightmare; many pedestrians have been struck by cars and several killed. They are overwhelmed by the influx of nonresidents, who don't even frequent the establishments but "party in the streets." We need to get the message out to those who live in the city and who can vote. The city manager and newspapers say there has been little opposition! "Hooters" is only one establishment this will be many!

The 50 percent food rule does not mean that the person drinking the alcohol will have to have his bill 50 percent food. Some will eat and not drink and others will only drink. And about the 40-seat capacity rule if we had only one establishment with 40 drinking patrons on the road, that is too much for me.

If this referendum is passed, can we only wait to see the increase in our taxes needed to cover the extra services of police, fire, ambulance, and courts not to mention the toll of personal tragedy?

Patricia D. Walston

Fayette

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