Boston Licensing Board Chair doesn't understand dietary law
Here's an interesting story from a local news blog:
http://www.universalhub.com/2010/alls...
The gist: a (not particularly great) kebab shop in my neighborhood petitioned to be allowed to stay open until 3 a.m. Part of their argument was that Muslim cab drivers (of which Boston, like most cities, has many) could use a place to get a halal meal during an overnight shift. That seems reasonable to me, and I certainly don't mind the idea of being able to get a late-night kofte myself. But while rejecting the restaurant's petition for a variety of b.s. reasons, Boston Licensing Board head Dan Pokaski said something clueless at best and insensitive-verging-on-racist at worst:
"But board Chairman Daniel Pokaski was having none of it, asking what would stop somebody from coming in next week and demanding a late-night license because 'the Italians want to come in and they want a slice of pizza?'"
Really? You equate Muslim dietary law with a late-night pizza craving?
No wonder Boston's late-night dining is so pitiful: this moron is in charge of it!
Turns out the members of the Licensing Board are appointed by the governor...wonder if Deval Patrick knows what kind of clown he's got in charge.
By BarmyFotheringayPhipps
on Mar 10, 2010 10:00 PM
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You need a permit to stay open all night? Is it an alcoholic beverage thing?
How does 7-11 get buy staying open 24/7? If there are 7-11's in Boston.
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Nope. This place doesn't have a beer/wine license.
And 7-11s here usually aren't open 24 hours. Because the Boston Licensing Board sucks.
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Really? The two in central square are open all night, yet food places can't stay open. There must be some sort of ozning difference.
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Central Square is Cambridge, Barmy is talking about Boston. So you are probably right that there is a zoning difference between the two cities.
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I'm trying to think of my boston proper 7-11 patronage. I've been in some at very wee hours of the morning (3am+), but can't say for sure that they didn't close
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wait what?! 7-11's don't open 24 hours in your city?
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A few do, but not all of them.
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That is royally stupid indeed.
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Why does the "government" get to say what hours a business can open? This is America.
Liquor is the weird case, but for everything else? WTF?
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I understand the need to regulate the hours of businesses. If a kabob restaurant is allowed to set their own hours, everyone will want to, and then young Saudi hooligans will come rolling in to Boston and have noisy falafel-and-bondage parties from Mattapan to Charlestown.
Unbelievable.
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That's no surprise, given the nonpareil hackery of Massachusetts government. I hope the shop owner takes the matter to the ACLU, EEOC, B'nai Brith, or whatever organization has the most clout.
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That would have to be the Hackney Carriage Licensing Unit (aka taxicab regulation division) of the BPD. ;-)
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