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Mayor opposes more package stores near schools, says neighborhoods are saturated
Summary
The mayor of Lowell City said he will oppose proposals to allow additional package stores near schools and shelters, citing an apparent saturation of such stores — particularly in lower-income areas — and said he will not vote to send the matter to a subcommittee.
The mayor of Lowell City criticized the location of package stores near several schools and a shelter and said he will not support sending proposals on the issue to a subcommittee.
The mayor said that when he tours local schools — mentioning the Butler, Shaughnessy and the STEM Academy — he often sees a package store across the street and that neighborhoods appear to be “saturated” with them. “I won’t be in favor of any of it, no matter which way it goes,” he said, adding he does not understand “why we're trying to cater to people when we have another group of people that have major issues” in lower-income areas.
The comment framed the concern as both a land-use and equity issue, with the mayor pointing to the apparent concentration of package stores near schools and shelters. He said those patterns are especially visible in lower-income neighborhoods and argued against expanding retail alcohol outlets in those areas.
The mayor closed his remarks by refusing to support sending the matter to a subcommittee or advancing it further for review during the meeting. The transcript contains no record of a formal motion or vote on the matter in the provided segments.
The issue as stated in the transcript centers on proximity of retail alcohol outlets to educational facilities and shelters and the mayor’s stated opposition; the transcript does not record any proposed ordinance language, specific licensing actions, or subsequent committee directives.
