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December 2006 / January 2007 This issue home | Past issues | Chamber home Voters Support Chamber-Led Initiative To Allow Beer And Wine Sales In City On Nov. 7, Richardson citizens turned out in strong numbers to vote on a number of ballot items, including a proposal to allow beer and wine sales in stores throughout Richardson. The proposal received overwhelming support, with 68 percent of the community voting in favor. Almost 14,000 Richardson citizens brought this issue to a vote by signing a petition initiated by “Richardson Residents for Quality Retail,” formed by the Richardson Chamber of Commerce earlier this year. The beer and wine measure gives Richardson-area grocery stores and convenience stores (those that are not within 300 feet of schools or churches) the option of putting beer and wine on their shelves. A number of stores have already taken advantage of the new measure by applying for city permits, and stores who receive approval on their permit applications should be stocking beer and wine early in 2007. “This initiative will strengthen Richardson’s existing stores, and we are hopeful that it will also help attract new stores to the city,” said William C. Sproull, president and CEO of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce. “Our effort to support the beer and wine initiative was designed to give Richardson residents a voice on a critical issue, while also making our retailers more competitive, keeping our sales tax dollars and providing consumers with the same amenities they can readily get in other communities.” Richardson-area residents and Chamber leaders launched the petition drive in May to get signatures that would allow citizens to vote on whether qualifying retailers in Richardson should be allowed to sell beer and wine for off-premises consumption. Many cities in the DFW area already allow beer and wine sales, including our neighboring cities of Plano and Garland. Richardson’s retailers may now acquire some of this business, which is critical since beer and wine purchases can account for up to 20 percent of retail receipts. Moreover, most Richardson residents will benefit from the convenience of buying their beer and wine, in addition to their regular groceries, at local stores rather than in the stores of a neighboring city. Richardson now joins more than 100 cities in Texas that have voted to liberalize their alcohol laws over the past three years. Most who have done so report significant increases in tax revenues and other beneficial economic development as a result. For more information on the approved measure and the city's permitting process, contact John Webb, assistant director of planning for the City of Richardson, at 972-744-4260. Action News is a monthly publication of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce Communications Department. To unsubscribe, e-mail administrator@telecomcorridor.com. Please provide your name, company, phone number and e-mail address. |
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