What it says: This Ordinance now allows for the possession and consumption of approved alcoholic beverages at City coordinated events and within the approved event boundaries. Locations to include: Bryant Park, Cultural Plaza, City streets, Beach Complex and other designated City event spaces used in the production of City coordinated events.
It's going to be one heck of a party-time. But the latest City of Lake Worth "rule" is restrictive on those businesses that have licenses to sell alcohol. They have to ensure that their patrons don't walk out with a go-cup if a not for profit is competing with them at this city sponsored event. Does anyone remember this ever being discussed?
The Mod Squad was told by the city of Lake Worth's Events Coordinator that,
"When a non-profit (501(c)(3) petitions to close a street for events, and that non-profit uses alcohol as part of its fund-raising efforts, the other vendors of alcohol within the business district are prohibited from allowing the sales in their establishments from going into the streets.
To protect yourselves from fines and loss of license, you must post a sign at every exit saying that no alcoholic beverage can be taken from the establishment past the exit.
This, and your vigilance, should protect you from any fines or retribution. Please take the precaution of photographing your signs at each exit as proof of your compliance."
The businesses are now being threatened by the city, sucking up to the neighborhood associations raising money through beer sales. Mary Lindsey has more clout than she ever imagined.
ReplyDeletePirates ARE Thieves!
ReplyDeleteWhy is anyone surprised?
I may just stand by the Gov Beer
and TELL EVERYONE the city is stealing, YES STEALING commercial business profit! How unethical is that!
The NA's can be stopped as MOST by-Laws Prevent Propaganda and they NEVER tell the WHOLE STORY or even an opposing view!
Seven/50 has been REMOVED from 3 Counties and Boca! Pink Zones (in this plan) allow favoritism and stuff like this to happen!
We the People still have free speech and I bet anyone visiting would go buy a beer from a business and BOYCOTT the Gov Beer! Just have to let them know where the profit goes!
It's happening all over America. Government right in your face.
ReplyDeleteThink about it--you spend money opening a business, get the proper permits and licenses, hire employees, spend money on inventory and a government tells you if you don't post a sign at the egress spot and if you even think about competing with a not-for-profit allowing an open container to leave your premises, you can be in big time do do. You have to wonder where in hell you live anymore. Just a thought.
1. In my opinion, the neighborhood associations are doing everything in their power to improve Lake Worth. They should not be demonized. Mary Lindsey ,as president of the N.A.P.C., has done an excellent job of not allowing politics to enter into discussions or decisions by that board.
ReplyDelete2.Personally, I don't think that ANYBODY should be walking around with an open container of alcohol from ANYONE !
3. Since the city has allowed this, open container policy at events, EVERYONE, including THE BUSINESSES WITH LIQUOR LICENCES THAT PAID TO DO BUSINESS in Lake Worth should be allowed to be under the same open container policy.
Katie Mcgiveron
And this is the Commission and Mayor who say with their election Lake Worth is "Open for business".
ReplyDeleteSo why are the restaurant owners being put behind the zero tax paying not for profits, and being made to run through hoops to protect themselves from getting a violation.
Seems business unfriendly to me.
Abuse of power, pure and simple.
ReplyDeleteI think it makes perfect sense for this to be an open container event. People want to walk around to see the art. I do agree that if its open container than the business should also be permitted to sell and let the patron walk.
ReplyDeleteI would assume though, that like Key West no one is going to enforce anyone walking out of bar with a beer in their hand.
The NA's are NOT making money selling beer! They are volunteering to help serve the beer, and in return, they will get the tips. I did it with Kiwanis for years, and believe me, it isn't a great deal of money...most would rather save their money to buy another beer.
ReplyDeleteWho's making the money?
ReplyDeleteIn this case, it is the Street Painting Festival, Inc. a 501 c corp.
ReplyDeleteYes... and since the event is FREE and brings THOUSANDS of people to our city, the event organizer must make money on the vendors. The vendors that PAY to take part in the festival. If the restaurants and bars wanted to help support the event and sponsor it, then I think things would be different. The bars and restaurants were asked to sponsor. They declined. They still see a huge uptick in their business solely because of the THOUSANDS of people brought in by the people who ORGANIZED the event.
ReplyDeleteSour grapes.
How much to be a "sponsor?"
ReplyDeleteWhat difference does that make? If the complaint was that the sponsorship was too expensive, you should have brought that up. The bars and restaurants make a ton of extra money over the weekend and refuse to help with the promotion of the event.
ReplyDeleteHow much is it worth to help support our signature event?
Oh, sounds like an argument brewing. This is the first time that we have had an open container Street painting Festival event. So, I am asking, if a business wanted to be a "sponsor" what is the financial cost and would they get an exemption to this non-compete rule?
ReplyDeleteSo, for them to pay and be a sponsor, should there be any other benefit other than just the fact they are located in our downtown? Does the city need to take threats by the Street painting Festival re-locating to a different city if they don't get their way?
The city needs to let the organizers do what is necessary to ensure the continued success of the event. They must be doing something right. Going on 20 years. If the restaurants and bars want to participate, let them negotiate with the organizers. There are two sides to most arguments. If not, they can continue to reap nice profits as they have for the past 19 years, from within their own premises. What is so unfair about that?
ReplyDeleteOn the surface, nothing. However, after all these years, the rules have now changed.
ReplyDeleteI beg to differ. What I hear, the past
ReplyDeleteGrievances of the organizers of having to compete on the street with our own businesses, and having them refuse to help financially (sponsorship) of the event, led to the city enforcing rules which allow the local businesses to reap huge profits during the event without having to cough up ONE RED CENT to help promote the event, and allowing the organizers utilize the streets, which they have a permit to operate. If a business wants to play in the streets, during the event, they must negotiate with the entity who runs the event. In the past, the local non-paying businesses just took advantage of the situation. This year, they are told they must help, or keep their business inside their walls.
So, yes, they don't want to cut into the windfall
By offering to help sponsor the event. Then don't complain when you must follow rules to make it fair for the organizers.
Don't most of the downtown business participate by sponsoring a square or an artist? I've seen those sponsorship signs for many many years.
ReplyDeleteYou could be right and they get the same recognition every other sponsor of a artist gets which is a plaque above the piece.
ReplyDeleteWhat is being talked about here is the organizer's need to make money in the streets that they have a permit from the city to control for the event. They think they should not have to compete with local businesses selling beer on the streets.
The city is basically telling them if they want to sell beer on the street, they must go through the organizer. Not the city.