Editor:

The Baldwin County Commission has voted (Mr. Burt absent) that the right to drink alcohol takes precedence over the public safety.

Presentations were made on April 17 to the commission both in favor of the issuance of a 020 (beer, wine and/or liquor) license for Big Daddy’s Grill. Well, after approximately 60 years of Baldwin County Commissions refusing such a license for a business in our residential community, the current commission failed in their duty to protect the public.

They chose the argument by proponents for the license that they need a place to gather (and I guess drink) over the argument by opponents that the safety of the community and children should be the primary concern. In Commissioner Ed Bishop’s motion to grant the license, he stated that everything changes. Does that mean that all change is good even if it places an increased number of individuals under the influence of alcohol driving and operating boats among us? Does that mean that we should roll over and play dead to alcohol consumption that may endanger our children and grandchildren?

I was amazed that so many patrons turned out to assert the right of Big Daddy’s to make money on the sale of alcohol and their right to drink alcohol. Then, I was informed that a bus brought patron supporters to the commission meeting.

It was stated at the meeting that proponents had about 1,000 signatures (no verification). Opponents had about 200 signatures (verified). I wonder how many of the proponents would have supported a degradation of public safety in their own residential neighborhoods?

It is astounding that this same commission membership, on March 8, voted to refuse the same license. Was public safety important in March when the owner did not have a bus load of patrons, and not so important in April, when he did?

As far as I am concerned, we have a gutless bunch of politicians representing us in Baldwin County. Perhaps because party-goers can vote and children cannot, the safety of our children is not important. Do they really think the continuation of their political careers will be enhanced by voting in favor of a well-orchestrated group over the welfare of our residential community?

It’s not like this is a complex problem commissioners cannot figure out. On the one hand, we require child restraint systems for automobiles to try and protect children, and, on the other hand, our commissioners undercut us by providing an on-premise alcohol consumption license in a residential community. It amazes me how these people can sleep at night.