I am writing in support of the upcoming mixed beverage referendum inKannapolis and asking others to support it, as well.

At the council meeting addressing this issue, I listened intently as both non-supporters and supporters presented their views. In almost every instance of support, the speaker voiced concern for the future of Kannapolis without the revenue that will be produced by the ability to sell alcohol. Likewise, in practically every instance of non-support, the speaker spoke only about the ill effects of alcohol.

There is no debate about the effects of excessive consumption or alcohol abuse. And as has been pointed out time and again, anyone who wants to purchase alcohol can do so without having to go very far, and they’re spending those dollars barely outside Kannapolis!

What must be seriously considered by the non-supporters is the economic issue. This is not a matter of whether one drinks alcohol; it’s a matter of economic survival for Kannapolis. I heard people stand up and say they ‘loved Kannapolis’. If you truly love it, you would realize that Kannapolis can’t compete without the same advantages of surrounding communities. Whether you like it or not, the ability to sell alcohol brings with it well-known restaurants, hotels and grocery stores to an area. And with the tax dollars they will bring to Kannapolis, we might better be able to improve our schools, streets and property values.

Without it, we will suffer the slow demise of the city we “love.”

— Huyla Jackson

Kannapolis