Quote Originally Posted by copobo
rights are for minority groups. there's no need to protect the majority. every single real issue with retail sales can be solved with zoning.
Well, there are three ways a city can ban MMCs (or strip clubs, billboards, brake pad plants etc.). The can do it by ordinance or serial moratoria at the city council, they can zone them out, or they can put it to a vote. I think this issue is important enough to go to the expense of a vote. Think about it: for twenty or thirty grand there would be a real, empirical basis for law. It's never a good thing for a city to start shuttering honest businesses, but they owe the owners and employees the certainty that the act is an accurate reflection of the community's desires and standards.

There's also a broader underlying issue: for city government to ban a business or business practice, there has to be an interest. In theory, government has to prove there are negative externalities, secondary consequences to the community from these businesses. That conversation should be public, not in a planner's office or even in a council session. Like trials, elections aren't a perfect process for distilling truth or wisdom, but supporters of the ban would be forced to make their case in the court of public opinion and people like you and me will there to tear it to shreds when they do.
HighPopalorum Reviewed by HighPopalorum on . more great news for fans of 1284: Fort Collins to fall next? Voters deserve voice on MMDs | The Coloradoan | coloradoan.com Voters deserve voice on MMDs Many of you are aware a petition is being circulated to ask voters if they want to allow voters to decide as to whether marijuana distribution centers are allowed in the city of Fort Collins or not; this was never voted on before by the people. In fact, it was decided, in 2009, by unelected officials who overturned your vote, thus departing from Amendment 20 and allowing storefront marijuana Rating: 5