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State tells pioneering winery it can shrivel up and die now
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Comments
Softball down the middle
For anti-regulation / pro small business politics.
The end is the kicker-. AG office says they can l formally appeal after they've officially been denied a license. But by that time they'll be out of business. Thanks, AG Healy.
Her new thing is making sure
Her new thing is making sure plantiffs don't have standing to deny access to the courts. It's like something out of the klan era south.
"I don't want any money. Rich
"I don't want any money. Rich Pelletier just wants to stay here and be left alone."
Left alone: Not something that happens much in this nanny state.
Sea dog in Hull...
"But the principle of alcohol control, going back to the end of Prohibition, is that manufacturers, typically big breweries, should not own restaurants."
Sea Dog makes beer, but in Maine, so it's cool.
FTA: "For a small business Republican like Pelletier, this is what the party means when it attacks excessive government regulation it claims is killing small business.
"There isn't any question with respect to the Nashoba Valley case that this constitutes over-regulation," Michael Connolly, a former secretary of state. "And that's someone who's a lifelong Democrat who's speaking to that particular issue."
Could it be really that petty? He's a Republican? Or maybe a well connected developer just wants the land? No, I'm just being paranoid.
Nawwww. No way. But, the ABCC stand is asinine.
"The local licensing authority of any city or town wherein the granting of licenses under this section is authorized, notwithstanding any limitation on the number of licenses the city or town is authorized to grant in section 17, may grant a license to the holder of a farmer-winery license under section 19B or from any other state for service to travelers, strangers, and other patrons and customers who are at least 21 years of age, such wine to be served and drunk on the premises of the winery at such locations on the premises of the farm as the local licensing authority may deem reasonable and proper. For purposes of this section, a farm shall have the meaning ascribed to it in section 1A of chapter 128. "
IANAL, but it seems pretty cut and dried.
on the premises
"on the premises" --> "inside a building or on the area of land that it is on ... ()
Seems like a whole lot of wiggle room. Same fence enclosure? Common name? Unified landscaping? Integrated ingress/egress for the restaurant?
Sounds like a comedy of errors that should have both sides racing to compromise.
One sided race
"...should have both sides racing to compromise."
What exactly do you think the compromise should be on Pelletier's part?
Compromise?
"For purposes of this section, a farm shall have the meaning ascribed to it in section 1A of chapter 128. "
The definition is pretty cut and dried IMHO.
My compromise? Raze the buildings, clear cut the trees, build as many cookie cutter houses as allowed, paint them all beige and call it Healeyville.
Oh, and have its own Facebook and Twitter pages.
Now that I think of it, maybe do the pages first...this case is crying to be tried in the media.
What were the hardworking and
What were the hardworking and passionate owners doing wrong that have caused such a painful death to their dream by our abusive politicians and lawmakers? Pray tell? What's the lame reason??!
Simple
They own some extremely valuable land in a snobburb that is quite near to a major highway interchange, and somebody wants to make money off of it.
This:
is a massive problem. I'm so glad we live in a country where government is not only clear and just, but transparent.
yes yes yes yes
Nothing against bureaucrats, we need them, but they should be 100% accountable and for anything they deem, there should be a (reasonably) easy way to appeal to a neutral judge.
The state is really hard to deal with
There are all kinds of cul de sacs in state regulation. Employing people here is really hard, the regs are set up to bust Mr. Factory Owner but the hit the little guy hardest.
Not only is this vexing
But it also makes it look like they have a friend who wants the piece of the action. "You could sell the restaurant". Right. Somebody wants either the land or the business, and the "we don't have to tell" you aspect simply reinforces the speculation.
Very Bulgeresque.
Why? Because they said so and
Why? Because they said so and "it is obvious to anyone of common intelligence" so don't bother going to court where you won't have standing anyway.
Our state government is acting more like the mafia these days. Without reform people and businesses are going to start giving up and voting with their feet.
Maybe...
...someone was denied a brunch reservation once too often. Or dissatisfied with the cider donuts.
Keep voting Democrat: Pedophile men in girl's room, no winery
God Bless the Democrats and those who vote for them, including proud lesbian Attorney General Maura Healey who would fight to allow men into your daughter's shower but deny operation to a family run winery/restaurant that has operated quietly for sixteen years. No surprise the ABCC Chairwoman is a also a former Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA) coatholder. Only in
AmericaMassachusetts.Does your face hurt?
You keep huffing on that dog whistle like that, you're gonna look like a glory hole regular. Please find a mental health professional; it's really not healthy for you to obsess so about other people's sexuality and create fantasies about what happens in bathrooms.
oh hell no.
you leave your backwater transphobic nonsense out of a comment thread that has nothing to do with that.
This is bull$hit
There must (I hope) be more to this story. If Nashoba did something wrong to prevent renewal of their license the State should come out and say so. If not, the optics of this story scream some sort of political / personal vendetta. The AG should come out and give a straight answer, not doing so is a disservice to the people of MA and every business owner in the state.
What business in their right mind would come to MA if for no reason the state can pull their license at any moment. A stable, healthy economy is built on consistent regulations and operating environments. Regulatory and economic uncertainty is the death to any industry or business.
If this is an issue with the original license at the fault of the gov, I would hope that after 16 years Nashoba would be grandfathered in or given a pass. Business should not be penalized for the fault of the government.
\\yes I have bought wine from Nashoba and taken my family there for fruit picking.
Abutters
Some neighbors should sue the state for allowing this abomination to exist for 16 years.
And then give the award to Mr. Pelletier so that he can make whatever improvements are necessary to carry on bringing enjoyment to his customers and tax revenues to local government.
I just bought a case
I don't like white wine, and I'm generally skeptical of any wine made in the Northeast, but...
I went over to Nashoba Winery and bought a case of pear wine. They'll ship it to my front door. If I don't like it, I'll give away the other 11 bottles when I visit friends and family.
Venting on universalhub is cathartic, but unlikely to help this business owner. Contacting your state rep is a good idea I suppose. Buying a case of wine from him puts a few bucks in his pocket, which will help him with his $15k+ in legal bills dealing with this nonsense.
Some recommendations
The Gewurztraminer is out of this world.
There is a summer reddish wine that tastes like a fine sangria - Marion
Other favorites are Chrysleton, Strawberry Rhubarb
Here's the list with linked descriptions: http://nashobawinery.com/wines/
You can also make a road trip - the $8 tasting fee also gets you a nice glass!