"Nia Meeks" nmeeks@pasenate.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT
State Sen. Anthony H. Williams Nia Ngina Meeks
www.senatoranthonywilliams.com Director of Communications
(215) 492-2980 or (215) 266-6471

State Sen. Anthony H. Williams regains protections for Phila. communities
Williams leads fix to law that protects residents from irresponsible liquor license holders

HARRISBURG, November 22, 2006 - State Sen. Anthony H. Williams hailed passage of House Bill 446, which contained the amendment he authored to provide a sought-after correction for a law designed to curb irresponsible liquor license holders in Philadelphia.

“The Legislature gave the residents of Philadelphia an early Christmas present,” Williams said as the 2005-2006 legislative session ended. “We worked together, in a bi-partisan fashion, city, suburban and rural, to create a real-world solution and aid the many people who have been crying out for this help.

“This is the remedy for Act 39 that the city requested and the people demanded - and the state delivered.”

Under Williams’ amendment, Philadelphia is authorized to create a new 3-member hearing board within the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections that will administer Act 39. The mayor will appoint the members, subject to City Council’s approval.

Establishments who want to sell take-out beer in Philadelphia after October 31, 2007, must apply to the new hearing board and receive its approval before they can obtain a take-out beer permit from the state Liquor Control Board. The new hearing board will have 90 days in which to consider the request, hold hearings and make a final decision.

Williams led the efforts to pass the amendment in the state Senate and state Rep. Robert C. Donatucci led the effort in the state House. The measure passed 27 to 22 and 112 to 75, respectively. The bill awaits Gov. Edward G. Rendell’s signature.

Two years ago, Williams led the legislative effort to create legislation that would better regulate the sales of take-out beer in Philadelphia. For many in Philadelphia, Act 39 came as a relief to those suffering from negligent operators of nuisance bars and “stop-n-go”s - delicatessens and corner stores notorious for selling more fortified malt beverages and drug paraphernalia than food.

Following the new law, Philadelphia City Council created a process by which those wanting to sell take-out beer had to face a community review process. Of the close to 550 locations that filed for the newly established license, nearly 50 across the city lost the privilege to sell take-out beer as a result of documented complaints lodged by neighbors and others.

Those reprimanded owners and operators sued, claiming that as written and implemented, Act 39 was unconstitutional. The courts agreed, calling for the city to revise its process. The city, in turn, asked the state Legislature to amend the law so it could better address the court’s concerns.

The state House Liquor Control committee held hearings on the issue last September, gaining input from affected neighbors as well as business owners. The meetings at times were tense and contentious. At one point, it was charged that Act 39 was established to hurt Asian-American business owners - a charge that Williams and his fellow legislators rightfully refuted.

Donatucci, Democratic chair of the state Liquor Control Committee, said that, for the record, “the House of Representatives, whichever side, would never target one group. It’s unacceptable and I take offense to it.”

The most important point, Williams said, is that quality of life for those who live in the city will be preserved.

“Some had lost hope, felt as though their voices, their protests, their letters, their phone calls, fell to deaf ears,” Williams said. “What is most reaffirming about this whole process is that democracy, in its truest form, took place. Now we can move together, as one community, to address a troublesome area.

“We know that not every stop-n-go or bar owner is irresponsible. We also know that some who had been sloppy in the past in their oversight began to mend their ways once Act 39 came into being. With this amendment, we are creating a social pact that every community is to be respected, and every operator must also be a neighbor, or face the consequences.”

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Nia Ngina Meeks
Director of Communications
State Sen. Anthony H. Williams
PA Senate - 8th District
T: 215.492.2980, ex. 30
F: 215.492.2990
nmeeks@pasenate.com
www.senatoranthonywilliams.com

"Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."
-- 3 John 1:2