We cannot decide what we dislike more: The new ordinance or the way it was carried out.
Tuesday evening, the Columbus City Council voted unanimously to limit the hours that some convenience stores in the city can operate. Beginning on Oct. 6, some stores must close at 10 p.m. five nights a week and at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The council believes doing this will help curtail what our chief of police called “problems.”
The list of “problems” the chief listed before the council goes like this: “underage drinking, gang activity, loitering, littering, loud noise, disturbing the peace, fighting, discharging of firearms, graffiti, vandalism, burglary, illegal drugs and trade and underage smoking.”
You will notice that that list does not include convenience stores, or the hours they operate.
So why are some stores — basically, those close to residential areas that sell alcohol — being forced to operate a certain way?
They simply have done nothing wrong.
And if they do, there are mechanisms in place to deal with it. If they sell cigarettes to an underage person, issue a fine. If the business is a public nuisance, declare it as such and make the person running it come before the council. If they are selling illegal items, confiscate and make arrests. Does the council and chief think these undesirable activities will suddenly cease if they force convenience stores to close earlier?
In short, we believe Columbus authorities should target the problems the chief talked about, not shorten the windows of time that some Columbus business owners can do business.
We also wish the council had offered more chances for the public to be involved in this process of regulating when some businesses can be open.
The idea for the new ordinance came out of a series of public hearings that followed a March shooting at Sim Scott Park. But Tuesday night was the first time council members took the issue up at the board table. Even so, a small but animated group showed up.
It was a lively bunch. Some were supportive, some were opposed.
City attorney Jeff Turnage said state law allows the council to dictate opening and closing hours for business that sell beer without notice or offering a public hearing.
The council, though, should have opted to create more avenues for public feedback before implementing this new ordinance.
What would have been the harm in that?
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.