UPDATED: Atlanta City Council Approves Sunday Alcohol Question On November Ballot
East Atlanta's Natalyn Archibong votes against it
Atlanta residents will get the chance to have their say on Sunday alcohol sales this November.
The Atlanta City Council on Tuesday voted 9-2 for the measure, which lets voters decide if they will authorize the city council to allow and regulate Sunday sales of beer, wine and liquor.
The question — Ordinance #11-O-1169 — will be placed on the Nov. 8, 2011 City of Atlanta Special Election ballot. That ballot also would include the referendum to continue the extension of the the penny sales tax by Atlanta Public Schools and to fill the vacant Atlanta Board of Education District 2 seat.
Two of the City Council members who represent the neighborhoods that comprise East Atlanta Patch Kwanza Hall and Alex Wan were among the eight sponsors of the measure and voted for it.
Natalyn Archibong, whose district includes East Atlanta Village and Kirkwood, voted against it.
Archibong said she's not fundamentally opposed to Sunday store sales of alcohol.
"I voted against the proposal out of concern for the bar and restaurant owners who may lose revenue if Sunday sales are approved," she told East Atlanta Patch. "In these tough economic times, I was concerned about unintended negative consequences for small bar/restaurant owners.
"Otherwise, I would have had no objections to putting the matter before the voters."
Sharon Foster Jones
8:40 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Oh, for God's sake, let people decide for themselves.
Tank
7:49 am on Thursday, September 8, 2011
Shame on you, Natalyn. Normally one of your biggest fans, I feel ashamed of my council member today....
Péralte Paul
4:26 pm on Thursday, September 8, 2011
She just got with me and explained why she voted "no." I've updated with her comments, Tank.
Tank
4:37 pm on Thursday, September 8, 2011
While I understand her reasoning, I still do not support archaic laws on the off chance that repealing said law might negatively affect businesses. I think the freedom of choice rules in this instance. Thanks for keeping us updated, P!
lorelei
3:24 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
What Tank said. That is some of the most ridiculous reasoning I've ever heard. So Natalyn, you'd rather people go to a bar and get drunk and then drive home?