A magistrate judge in the Gwinnett County Superior Court on Monday issued a temporary restraining order against the city, prohibiting officials from issuing additional licenses for the next 30 days.
The next hearing, in which the judge could decide whether to issue a permanent injunction, is set for Jan. 27.
"I'm very pleased that the court heard our position and granted an extraordinary relief in this temporary protective order," said attorney Rick Stepp, acting on behalf of eight residents.
Snellville barred from issuing Sunday liquor licenses
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Really, it's an embarrassment to Snellville that this is even an issue.
I'm really surprised we're allowed to go shopping on Sundays in Snellville. There was a time when there was no shopping on Sundays. None at all. Not even grocery stores would be open on Sundays. Those were called "Blue Laws." I guess Robert Jenkins and his group of residents weren't here back then to stop that from happening?
(I'm sure there are still people who think you are committing sin when you go into a Kroger grocery store on a Sunday to buy some Children's Tylenol when your 2 year old is sick. You should have bought it on Saturday and already had that Tylenol on hand, so you wouldn't have to go into a store on a Sunday, you heathen beast.)
Now look, I don't drink generally, and I consider myself a Christian, but that doesn't mean I feel I should dictate to everyone else what they can do.
(I don't drink, "generally," but in the interest of full disclosure, I must say I drank about a cup of white wine on Christmas Day and took a nap on the sofa)
If a restaurant serves alcohol and you don't like that, then don't eat there. Don't support the restaurant with your business. There are many other restaurants you can go to. You have this right.
If you are a Christian and you expect everybody else to follow Christian law, then don't complain when a different religion someday has the power and wants you to abide by their laws. No religion or religious group should have a hand in our laws.
Religion and law are intertwined in the Islamic world, and that's seen as wrong by many American Christians, but many Christians see no problem with injecting their religious moral values into American law. Am I the only one to see the irony?
I was disappointed to never see separation of church and state mentioned by Mayor Oberholtzer or any of the Snellville City Council members who were in favor of the Sunday liquor sales passing. It was only touted as an economic benefit to the restaurants.
Helping Snellville's economy is a selling point right now. I guess they are afraid they will enrage the congregations in Snellville if they mention that religious laws need to stay out of secular laws.
This pisses me off because Robert Jenkins lost in the city council election. Citizens voted him out, and this is more of his way of trying to get even. I never asked Jenkins to be my moral compass
ReplyDeleteWe don't need alcohol sold on Sundays. I have enough problems out of the club around the corner on Friday's and Saturday's. If they allow alcohol on Sunday's it will mean there will be more rude, disrespectful people driving in and out playing loud booming music, and more loud booming music from the club. Why is this damn night club being allowed to operate less than 100 feet from our homes anyway?
ReplyDeleteLarry, what you are enduring is more of a zoning ordinance problem than an alcohol on Sunday problem. By law, you shouldn't have to deal with undue amounts of noise pollution on ANY day of the week. Have you checked with the zoning and code enforcement department in Snellville? You can find your contacts by going to Snellville.org. Also noise complaints to the police department should be investigated. Hope this helps.
ReplyDeleteSnellville police WILL ticket those who fail to abide by the noise ordinance...ask me how I know (The fine 13 years ago was around $150).Has nothiong to do with alcohol sales, if you have a problem with someone in violation of the noise ordinance CALL THE COPS!
ReplyDeleteAs for Jenkins and the Christian Taliban... ugh..We have soldiers fighting in foreign countries to aid those oppressed by religious fanatics, seems we should bring them to Snellville.
Anonymous, I wish I knew your name, because I completely agree!
ReplyDeleteEven if my religious beliefs held that alcohol should not be served or consumed on Sundays I would not expect others to hold the same religious or moral belief.
I would say that some 'Christians' hurt the cause of Christianity by being perceived as pushy and judgmental. A main tenet of Christianity is to try to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ wasn't pushy or judgmental.
What is being overlooked here, IMHO, is the fact that Jenkins and his friends are actually trying to push their agenda on the rest of the city and not giving one thought to the cost of their actions on the citizens. First this is a frivolous lawsuit which will cost the city money to defend. Tax payers money. Beyond that they do not have enough insight to realize that the status quo of our commercial tax digest will eventually require a tax increase on our residential properties. (We MUST improve our commercial district in order to protect against exorbitant tax hikes.)
ReplyDeletePeople need to ask Mr Jenkins how much he is willing to pay in additional taxes in order to keep Sunday Sales out of Snellville. (Remember this is the man who wanted to furlough policemen one day a month but woudn't consider a $16.65 a month cut in his city check.
In the 2 weeks since they passed Sunday Sales I understand the city has received an application to re-open a currently dark restaurant and their have been discussions between the city and a developer to breathe new life into a project which has laid stagnant for the last 5 years. These are REAL accomplishments that can be directly related to the vote of December 14th to allow Snellville restaurants to compete with EVERY neighboring restaurant business.
Jenkins lost his post to Witts. Witts voted for Sunday Sales, therefore Witts is an Oberholtzer stooge as far as Jenkins is concerned. Maybe Witts knows more about business and economics than Jenkins, after watching and listening to both of them it is not hard to see why Witts won. This is personal to Jenkins and he doesn;t care what it costs the city or the citizens.
In The Netherlands shops are almost always closed on sundays. They have permission to be open on five or maybe six sundays in a year.
ReplyDeleteAlcohol may be sold but only by those who have a permission for it. If the visitors of a bar causes to much 'trouble', the mayor of the village or city can decide to close the bar for a period of time, or indeed, close it forever.
The selling of alcohol in common is not a big issue overhere.
Dante, the City of Snellville is surrounded by communities that allow Sunday Sales of LBTD on Sunday. Currently citizens travel outside the city to spend their money for Sunday Dinner if they want a glass of wine with it. If no one else sold on Sunday then it would not be a consideration in Snellville. That is not the case, these few individuals want to force their religious beliefs on the rest and they do not care how much it costs the taxpayers of the city.
ReplyDelete