Change unfair to small retailers

I would like to point out that the description for I-1183 on the ballot is incomplete. It does not state that there are size requirements for retailers to sell hard liquor. Most notably that a store must have at least 10,000 square feet, which mostly large stores have and smaller ones don’t.

This initiative unfairly picks winners and losers in what is supposed to be a free marketplace. It benefits only large retailers and leaves their smaller competitors out in the cold. Smaller stores currently have the same requirements to sell beer and wine, and must obey the same laws as the big stores.

I believe the state is responsible for the wording on the ballot, and has failed miserably to put a more complete description of the proposed initiative because it fails to mention the additional requirements related to obtaining the licensing to compete. It would only need another short sentence to be a fair wording.

If there is to be a monopoly on hard liquor I believe it should remain a public monopoly. We shouldn’t create a private one, as 1183 will do.

Michael Luke

Owner, Mike’s Deli Mart

Edmonds