By Connor Adams Sheets
More than 100 people gathered at MarPat Wines and Liquors in Flushing last week to protest a proposal by Gov. David Paterson to allow grocery stores to sell wine.
The assembled store owners, Mothers Against Drunk Driving members, union representatives and concerned citizens said the proposal, which would give 19,000 outlets statewide the opportunity to pay a fee in order to sell wine, would have severe negative effects on New Yorkers’ safety and it would harm liquor stores’ bottom lines.
The proposal is part of Paterson’s plans for balancing the state budget and he has estimated it would bring in $93 million over the next fiscal year by charging grocery stores a one-time fee or percentage of annual sales.
David Rosa, owner of MarPat, said he believes the plan is wrongheaded because it would create an environment which would enable younger adults to drink more easily.
“As a father of two kids, my main concern is kids are going to have so much more access to alcohol,” said Rosa, who is also chairman of the Hispanic Liquor Store Association of New York. “If every parent, every person in this city knew how much access kids would have because of this, everyone would oppose it.”
The proposal, which is similar to laws allowing grocery stores to sell wine in 35 other states, would also cause decreased businesses at traditional liquor stores at a time when many have been hit hard by the recession.
Trudy Valerio, co-chairwoman of the Hispanic Liquor Store Association of New York, and owner of Junior’s Liquors in Ridgewood, emphasized the importance of stopping the measure from becoming a reality because of the impact it would have on small-business owners like her and Rosa.
Both business owners joined with the Last Store on Main Street initiative, a statewide coalition aimed at defeating Paterson’s proposal.
“We have worked hard to make our stores a success, playing by the rules so we can provide for our families,” she said. “Gov. Paterson’s plan would take that away from us overnight, putting our jobs and the jobs we provide in our communities at risk. We urge the [state] Legislature to protect our jobs and protect our communities from Paterson’s horrible idea.”
Reach reporter Connor Adams Sheets by e-mail at csheets@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
