New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The Licensing board officially voted to ban the sale of nip bottles in the city of New Bedford. The ban is estimated to take in order starting November 1st as the board decided to give business owners time to sell their current stock.
This comes after a fiery meeting between citizens on both sides of the matter on Monday night. Most notably Mark Riley, the owner of “Freitas Package Store” has been voicing his objection to the ban.
“This decision was made by a hand picked committee appointed by the mayor, because the mayor knows if you put this in front of the voters it would not pass.”
Mark Riley gave an interview after the ruling which was captured live by Carlos Pimental Felix:
City Councilman Ian Abreu also voiced his opinion to the board in opposition of the ban, “I believe in adults being able to make adult decisions for whats best in their lives.” Abreu went on stating, “Lets not punish these commercial tax paying hard working individuals, because they have a right to earn a living.”
Several other members of the community that were in opposition of the ban announced they will be filing an ethics complaint in regards to the ruling from the licensing board. Mark Custodio announced to reporters, “Tomorrow we will file an ethics complaint that the debate took place outside public view and the board did not debate this issue in a public room.”
Carlos Pimental Felix photo.
There was a heavy presence of individuals who supported the ban on nips as well, some bringing bags full of bottles they collected off of the ground as an example of the issue they are causing on New Bedford streets.
Regardless of what side citizens are on, this seems to be a critically important topic for many. Which leads to the question, should citizens of voted on this matter rather than leave it to a board to decide?
Carlos Pimental Felix photo.
No it shouldn’t go for a vote. Do the people get to vote if they want to pay higher taxes, no. People simply fo not clean up after themselves. Too bad. So dad, not.
Walk around school grounds, every day, nip bottles throughout the property. Now, is it adults or have students gained access to nip bottles? This is another reason for the ban. It also makes it a way to drink and drive without getting caught. Drink on fast and toss it out the car window. There as it’s been proven over the yrs, adults are not responsible. Cannot go anywhere without seeing nip bottles scattered over the ground. Great job at banning them.
The nip bottles are a scourge in the North End. If the state can’t get it’s act together and update the bottle deposit law (increase the deposit and include more types of containers), then the nips should be banned.
This ban is what any government is supposed to do, protect society from itself or over zealous individuals that think the world needs to revolve around their individual actions!