Board 10 Backs Campaign to Stop State Plan for Wine Sales in Groceries

DYKER HEIGHTS — The proposal by the state to allow wine sales in grocery and convenience stores, delicatessens and gas stations got a strong thumbs down by Community Board 10 after a plea by the owner of a well-known Bay Ridge liquor store stated the dangers to independent liquor store businesses.

The swift action by the board at its meeting in Dyker Heights on Monday evening was somewhat unusual, after a motion to refer any action until after a board committee meeting was tabled. The nearly unanimous vote to support sending a letter to Governor David Paterson came after some discussion about the validity of opposing wine sales in groceries and big box stores.

Making the case for the board’s support was Heather Hamilton, owner of Long’s Wines and Liquors shop on Fifth Avenue in Bay Ridge. “If this goes through, there will be more underage drinking, more teen driving accidents and fatalities, and result in liquor stores closing and job losses,” she told the board, meeting in the Knights of Columbus Hall on 86th Street at 13th Avenue.

“I will make a motion for the board to support Heather Hamilton’s campaign to prevent wine sales in grocery sales,” board member Kevin Peter Carroll informed the board during its opening public speak-out. Hamilton’s experience growing up and living in California, where grocery businesses are permitted by law to sell wine, and seeing its toll on young people’s lives, along with the lack of liquor stores was cited by her as to what could happen in New York.

There was a sense of urgency that led to the board’s action recommending that the governor drop his budget proposal, which is hoped to increase state revenue by $150 million in two years through franchise fees. Supermarkets such as King Kullen and Whole Foods, and many wineries support the proposal. The measure could be approved before the next Board 10 meeting on March 16.

While about 11 people voted to table action until a committee meeting, most of the board members (a community board has 50 members) voted against tabling.

The campaign to halt the state proposal has been organized by The Last Store on Main Street Coalition, Hamilton said, and by the Law Enforcement Against Drunk Driving (LEADD) organization, along with a Long Island wine producers coalition. “The corporate grocery stores are leading the governor down a false and dangerous path,” Hamilton warned.

Just two weeks ago, the Dyker Heights Civic Association, after Hamilton spoke at its meeting, overwhelming backed the campaign. At the end of the board meeting, when the board members discussion took place, Carroll made the motion for the board to send a letter to Governor Paterson and elected officials recommending that the governor drop the proposal.

The board motion passed with three votes in opposition, one abstention and one bowing out of voting.