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Oct 30, 2009 6:53 pm US/Central
DeSoto Voters To Decide On Alcohol Sales
DESOTO (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Early voting ends today in DeSoto. The southern Dallas County town has a referendum on the ballot calling for the legal sale of beer and wine. The initiative is touted as a sales tax boost, but critics say DeSoto should look elsewhere.
Jim Terrel's convenience store and service station has a busy DeSoto intersection as its home base. The business is stocked with refreshments and drinks, but doesn't have beer or wine – both of which are banned by the city.
Signs outside the store endorse his call to do away with the 'dry' alcohol rule. Voting yes, he says, is simply doing what's already being done. "The only difference would be that we'll keep the revenue in our own community, we'll provide jobs for our own people, and that's good," Terrel said.
The City of DeSoto is leading the campaign to allow the sale of beer and wine. Leaders are playing up wine and beer sales as a potential needed economic boost for the community.
"I feel very strongly, 'cause I'm a long-time resident as I mentioned, that this is the right thing to do at the right time for an economic tool," DeSoto Mayor Bobby Waddle explained.
The mayor points to the neighboring towns of Duncanville and Glenn Heights, both towns he claims are getting millions in sales tax dollars from DeSoto beer and wine buyers.
Reverend Josef Rasheed is the pastor of Crossroads Covenant Church and while he has specific opinions about the issue said this, "I've stood before my congregation and I've explained to them that I cannot tell them how to vote."
But Rasheed leads the effort against the claim of economic prosperity via wine or beer. "As a minister, I cannot say yes and welcome it and embrace it as the solution to our economic problem," he said.
The City of DeSoto has been down this road before. In 2007, the bid to get beer and wine sales in area stores failed.)
Jim Terrel believes this time will be different. Rev. Josef Rasheed prays it won't.
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