Angola Mills becomes second local village to open open container law | Business Environment

Although most New York communities have container laws prohibiting people from drinking in public places, East Aurora has never banned them.

And now, another Western New York community – Angola – is considering a change in public alcohol use.

The idea is to create more activity in downtown districts by allowing people to move from one place to another. Proponents say those areas are more active and attract more people, which could be useful and more open to bars and restaurants.

East Aurora’s experience shows that this is not a game changer.

Gary Grote, director general of the Great East Aurora Chamber of Commerce, said it was positive for the village to be open to all walks and street shows in East Aurora.

However, the main attraction of East Aurora is certainly not. Grote said he did not believe people would come to East Aurora just to drink on the streets.

Grote, who was in a municipality, not Angola, said: “It’s a good thing – a good little benefit – people have recently called to inquire about it, as long as they are responsible. “It’s all about the way you act. I can see how they think it might be another way to attract other people.”

John Simperman, founder of 42 North Brewing Company in East Aurora, said the quality of the businesses, attractions and village leaders behind bringing people to Eastern Aurora is something new than an economic driver.

He and his wife were having dinner at a local institution recently.

“As a result, I have never met a visitor here,” said the brewery owner, who has been in business for seven years. “Any community in western New York is mistaken if they think it could be a magic pill to drive tourism.”

Over the past few years, Angola has been slowing down with a few new businesses, filling many of the village’s long open streets in front of shops.

Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online.

Although New York bans alcohol in cars, it has given it to local councils to control local streets and sidewalks.

“We have to make some changes to keep pace with the new life in the village,” said Valerie Stontich, Angolan trustee. “I feel that lifting this law will allow our business district to prosper. We are trying to make a positive difference in the village and it will help a little bit.”

Angolan Mayor Thomas Welan said the board had already lifted the ban on open containers for some summer events in the village. Each request is made by a separate vote on the Board. He emphasized that the village had not made any decision to lift the open container permanently.

“I say it’s a topic of discussion because I don’t know where the board is,” he said.

Stonech believes that the change in the law is supported by the majority of business owners in the village, but is not supported by every local leader and organization.

Pam Willer, president of Rediscover Angola, said he was opposed to people carrying open alcoholic beverages in the village because it could be a matter of public safety.

“When we do have events, there are set limits and safety groups and making sure that alcohol stays within those boundaries is key to everyone’s safety,” Wheeler said. “There is no reason for people to wander open containers outside the venue and around the village.”

From a law enforcement perspective, allowing people to drink alcohol on the streets of East Aurora has not had a significant impact on traffic and village crime, said Police Chief Shane Craigger.

The only exception was during the much-anticipated Eastern Aurora Music Festival in June. According to Craiger, the lack of an open container ban doubles the number of people who come to the tails for the event, especially with their own alcoholic beverages.

East Aurora is one of the municipalities in the country where cracking beer or a bottle of wine in public is one of the municipalities that keep you from being arrested. The village

A.D. In 2009, an East Aurora trustee argued that there was no open container law, and seven years later a resident complained to the Village Board, and both times, village officials and law enforcement agreed that this was not a significant problem. People who are intoxicated in public will have open containers, legal or illegal.

Two years ago, when restaurants and bars were under operational restrictions, Eri County Legislator Joe Lorigo, leader of the Minority Caucasus, announced a decision to support local councils that want to reconsider an open container law. On public roads and sidewalks. The decision did not reach the floor.

Lorigo, a representative of Eastern Aurora, believes that the opening of the open container law has benefited the village, saying, “I think what the residents want is something that should be discussed and supported in the municipalities.” “If people in Angola think it’s a good idea, I fully support it.”

Stonitish said she had gathered some ideas on what the village had done after looking at the East Aurora model and was now ready to discuss if it was appropriate for the Angolan community. She said it was difficult to determine whether residents would be involved in the change.

“I think now is the time to change that law in the village and if it doesn’t work out, we can always change it,” she said. “Ultimately, we want to do what is best for our residents and our business community.”

Local leaders are encouraging residents to express their views, no matter what. A public hearing was held on Thursday.

“For a long time, our village was very stagnant and this was due to a lack of participation,” Willer said. “The only way to make progress is for people to have a voice in this.”