Mayor Harvey Persons has decided to veto the City Council's unanimous vote, approving Sunday sales and their five-to-two vote, extending alcohol serving hours on Sunday mornings until 2 a.m.
Restaurants were warned at the end of last week not to start utilizing the extended pouring hours immediately.
In a statement to Douglasville Patch today, (.pdf attached) Persons said "both vetoes are based on public safety concerns and his belief that a majority of Douglasville's citizens are opposed to the two measures approved by the City Council."
The Mayor signed the veto at 11:57 a.m. today, in front of City Clerk Joyce Stone, according to the attached veto. There was some confusion whether the veto had to be signed by noon or 7:30 p.m. Part I, Article II, Section 2.33 (b) of the City's charter seems to indicate noon.
"The Douglasville Mayor has the authority to veto any action of the City Council," reads the statement. "These two vetoes will be reported officially to the City Council during its Tuesday, May 15, legislative work session. The City Council during its regular meeting on Monday, May 21, can override each of the Mayor’s vetoes should five members vote to do so."
"I opposed this change in the City’s current ordinance because I believe it negatively would impact the public safety of the City and would result in our streets and roads becoming more dangerous," Persons said of extending pouring hours till 2 a.m. on Sunday.
Regarding letting voters have the chance to vote on a Nov. 6 Sunday sales referendum, the Mayor said, "I am opposed to this, and I feel there already is sufficient time during the week when people can make purchases of packaged beer, wine, and spirituous liquor."
If I am reading the maps correctly, it looks like you vote at Winston Elementary for County, State and Federal elections. Since Winston Elementary is not within the Douglasville city limits, it cannot be used for city elections according to state law. For city elections, you vote at the Old Courthouse in downtown Douglasville. A large percentage of city residents have two different polling places just like you. In November 2011, you would have to have gone to two different places to vote in order to be able to vote on both the ESPLOST and the Mayors race. The same thing will occur in November 2012, if the city council overrides the mayor's veto. Two avoid having to vote in two different places on the same day, you can take advantage of early voting at the courthouse where you can vote on both ballots (on two different voting machines). Here is a link to a document on the city website which shows who votes where. http://www.ci.douglasville.ga.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/556 As we get closer to November, I will ask the Douglasville Patch to provide this information to the readers. (IMHO, the city doesn't do the best job in communicating this.)
There are over 14,000 registered voters in the city of Douglasville.
I think in 15 years, I've been inside one of Douglasville's "package stores" twice. That doesn't mean that I'm enraged that the rights of citizens is being curtailed by one individual despite popular support and legislative support. I forget the quote, but a democratic leader once pointed out that, were you to allow all of the small minorities' rights to be removed, one day, the only minority left will be you. Something like that. I think those natural herbs might be interfering in your logic pattern.
Nope, toys can stay. Even if they have to pay for them now. I just don't want someone telling what I can and can't do, this is America, you know. If you choose not to go into a store then that is your right. I put in thirty years to protect, and defend that right for you, and America. I think we would make great friends, and have some great conversations. Thanks. Now for me to find out where it is that I have two voting places that I've known nothing about.
For the record, it is against the law to peddle or consume child porn because there are real victims involved. Likewise, it is illegal to drink and drive, whatever day of the week it is. Incidentally, while there are terrible DUI-related crashes, as a society, we have found ways to reduce the number by more than half over the last 12 years. That has NOT been accomplished by curtailing Sunday sales. In fact, there have been no new bans during that time, but MANY places where the citizens decided that the government overstepped its constitutional bounds and charter by imposing them in the first place.
http://sos.ga.gov/mvp You will be asked to enter your first initial and last name, county of residence and date of birth. You will get a page that tells you your county polling place, who your elected officials are and sample ballots. There will also be a link on that page to take you to your polling place for city elections. Like I said before, the city doesn't to a very good job of communicating this.
"storm drainage fees(taxes) from people who are not connected to the public water system or sewage system? While I agree that it should be put to a vote ( I do not live within the city limits), there a great many things that our government gets away with concerning our freedom and you knotheads don't gripe about them. If you think not getting to drink on Sundays or past 2AM is such a travisty just wait until you wake up one morning and our government tells you that you can't leave your home without permission. HA!
It's up to US to choose if WE want alcohol today tomorrow or the next or even SUNDAY! Mayor said he was concerned about drinking and driving, well Vila Rica is about 15 miles away and they sell alcohol and how many people you think know that in Douglasville? And you best bet that people are going to DRIVE (the thing the mayor is afraid of) drunk or not to get alcohol, hopefully no drunk driving, but you have to take in consideration its possibilities.
I love this paradox, also: "I was elected to make decisions. Do you vote on speed limits or zoning matters? No,” Mr. Mayor, the city councilmen and women were ALSO ELECTED TO MAKE DECISIONS! All seven of them did on one and five of seven of the other. I guarantee you that, were the mayor to veto a 7-0 zoning issue vote, there would be push-back! Especially if he made the decision due his personal bias or interest against the populace and the OTHER ELECTED LEADERS, like this one.