Featured photo: Councilman Quincy Murphy
By Tanya Terry, with photo by Tanya Terry
The Flint City Council was not able to reach an agreement on a proposal to lift a ban on Sunday morning alcohol sales after meeting for about eight hours on December 11.
Flint has an ordinance prohibiting alcohol sales between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Sundays.
The state of Michigan passed a law in November of 2010 that allows for “alcoholic liquor” to be sold at licensed and properly permitted establishments across the state from 7 a.m. to noon on Sundays. Local government units could choose to opt out by Dec. 15 of that year, according to the law.
ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 6224 reads: Except as otherwise provided for in subsection (6), the sale of beer and wine between the hours of 7 a.m. on Sunday and 2 a.m. on Monday is allowed, but may be prohibited, in any county, city, village, or township under the following circumstances:
The bill went on to read those circumstances include a majority vote of the legislative body voting on the resolution to make such an authorization, or submission of a petition under subsection (2) by a majority vote of the electors voting at a regular state election.
By Dec. 13, 2010, Flint City Council voted 6-0 to prohibit liquor sales during the hours of 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Sundays.
About three years later, the matter is appearing as an agenda item before the Flint City Council. Supporters of lifting the ban say it will help businesses in the city and prevent residents and travelers from going to dine outside the Flint city limits.
Steve Poulos, who owns the White House on Court Street with his brother Chris Poulos, told the Courier he is in favor of the Sunday morning alcohol ban being lifted.
Steve Poulos said: “I think I’d like to see them open it up.”
He added people would especially like to have a cocktail if they are having brunch Sunday morning.
“I don’t think it would be a big major change,” Steve Poulos said.”…I’m not going to get booming busy, and I’m not going to turn anybody into an alcoholic.”
Councilman Quincy Murphy also talked to the Courier about the matter.
“…I understand what they’re trying to do downtown, to allow the businesses downtown,” stated Murphy. “So, on that note, I support that idea. That being said, that does not say I don’t want it. I want to make that clear. The problem that I have with the ordinance is for the community that I represent – because it’s more than downtown Flint – that this would affect. The areas that I represent that it would affect are infested with liquor stores, and over the years historically it has destroyed our families. Over the years, they have turned into alcoholics. They can’t wait until the store opens in the morning, and I hate to see my people that look like me, and that don’t look like me, that’s poor, low-income, living in poor neighborhoods -and all that we’ve got to offer you is liquor.”
Murphy pointed out when a person rides or walks through his ward, they usually see a multitude of both churches and liquor stores.
“As a result, it’s not producing good fruit in our community,” Murphy added.”…Even though I’m a city councilman and the decisions we make affect the entire city, it also affects my neighborhood.”’
Murphy told the Courier he agreed to work with City Attorney William Kim to draft a document While doing this, Murphy would like to be able to make amendments to allow for selling liquor around the downtown corridor, while keeping the ban in his community “one day out of the seven days until 12 o’clock.”
On Dec. 13, the Courier reached out to the city attorney’s office. Attorney Kim was not immediately available, however.
On Dec. 13, Flint Resident Lisa Land shared the following statement:
