THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 30, 1995 TAG: 9507270220
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 54 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 166 lines
EDITOR'S NOTE: These letters were written after it was reported that the General Assembly had passed a bill that would have allowed Pirate's Cove to sell liquor by the drink. The writers sent in their reactions before the legislature rescinded that bill a few days later. Logic takes back seat
Plutocracy is alive and thriving in Manteo.
A group of wealthy people who control or influence a government overrode the mandate of a little community.
In four straight referendums, Manteo's citizens have rejected liquor by the drink within the town limits, and the town limits include Pirate's Cove. Now the North Carolina General Assembly, being guided by Rep. William T. Culpepper III, D-Edenton, and Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, D-Dare, at the request of Pirate's Cove managing partner Glenn Futrell, have added to Senate Bill 57 a provision that will allow liquor by the drink in Pirate's Cove.
With the power of Basnight and Culpepper behind the amended bill, the General Assembly overwhelmingly passed it without ``batting an eye'' and without determining the subterfuge that was being perpetrated on the citizens of Manteo.
When trying to justify a position taken, logic must definitely take the back seat, at least in this situation. Try this quote from Sen. Basnight who said, ``I feel the decision about liquor by the drink in Manteo should be made by Manteo residents.'' Please, Sen. Basnight, remember the four rejections already. Sen. Basnight again: ``But this will not in any way impact the town of Manteo . . . '' Again, Sen. Basnight, if Pirate's Cove is within the town limits of Manteo, this legislation by definition affects the town of Manteo much the same as the waste deposited by Pirate's Cove into Manteo's sewage treatment system.
And, saving the best for last, Sen. Basnight, your comment, ``Pirate's Cove is really much more a part of Nags Head than Manteo anyway. . . '' Now if Pirate's Cove draws water from Manteo, pays taxes in Manteo, votes in Manteo and has representatives on the town's boards, one would ordinarily conclude that Pirates Cove is ``in'' Manteo and not Nags Head. Rep. Culpepper's justifications reflect either a complete ignorance of the situation or a callous disregard thereof.
To the citizens of North Carolina, a word of warning, and liquor by the drink is not the issue. The General Assembly is all-powerful. That body, unless federal laws override, can legislate anything within the State of North Carolina, including dissolving the town of Manteo, making it a part of Hyde County or trading it for Ocracoke Island. But on the bright side, the General Assembly may combine Manteo and Wanchese, which are Indian names, into an Indian reservation and bestow upon us the right to gamble!
John Bowen ``Bo'' Ross
Manteo Slick legislative move
The following is part of a letter I wrote to state Sen. Marc Basnight:
You don't know me, and since my wife and I are not movers or shakers in the community or members of any of the important old families here, you probably never will.
However, we are residents of Manteo (or, at least we thought we were until we read your comments that ``Pirate's Cove is really more a part of Nags Head than Manteo''). You see, we own a home and make our permanent residence in Pirate's Cove, and, of course, we pay taxes to the town of Manteo. We also own a business in the town of Manteo, pay thousands to the town in business-related taxes and provide employment to a number of Manteo's citizens.
As owners and operators of The Tranquil House Inn and 1587 Restaurant, we have invested almost all of our family's worth in that business. Like Pirate's Cove, we rent accommodations and sell meals. 1587 has about 100 seats, and the market segment we serve is identical to the restaurant at Pirate's Cove. This year, The Tranquil House will play host to more than 12,000 guests, and we will serve thousands more in the restaurant.
The recent slick legislative maneuver embraced by you to allow a special exemption to Pirate's Cove to sell liquor by the drink in its restaurant sickens and saddens me. To blatantly contrive an exemption for that restaurant creates a non-level competitive playing field that works decidedly to our detriment as operators of a competing establishment.
In the words of Glenn Futrell of Pirate's Cove, ``Many people have left Pirate's Cove's restaurant and gone elsewhere when they found we didn't serve liquor. It's a business thing for us'' - an understandable argument for him to make. However, we and others made the exact same statement when we argued for liquor by the drink in the last referendum. We narrowly lost that referendum, but we had our opportunity under due process and have abided by the result. That, of course, until now, has been democracy in action. Now we know differently.
The real way to get what you need for your business is to find a crony who will attach a secret amendment to a bill (without opportunity for public discussion) and enlist the support of the power brokers who will agree ahead of the vote to support it. Then, get one of the most powerful politicians in the state to construct an argument that rationalizes the action by making a polarizing statement that one part of the town of Manteo should not have to follow the same laws as the rest of the town because it's really part of another town. Ain't America great!
You are correct in saying that ``the decision about liquor by the drink should be made by Manteo residents,'' but you are wrong in saying that ``this will not in any way impact the town of Manteo.'' We're residents and business owners in Manteo, and it certainly affects us and our business. Or, perhaps, we should begin sending our tax checks to the town of Nags Head. Further, and more dangerously, it certainly affects any municipality when its right to enact its own local laws is usurped by the Big Boys in Raleigh. While there are obviously some circumstances when the will of the state must outweigh the will of the local community, in this case there is no lofty community or social purpose to be served by this action. It's pure, unadulterated political favoritism with damaging consequences to other equally entitled citizens.
Having voted for you in the last election and having written to the Raleigh newspapers on your behalf when you were under attack by their editors for your support of the bike path, I'm appalled to learn that my trust and confidence were misplaced. I'm also amazed to hear you rule me out of the town where I live. Of course, such statements will, I'm sure, further ingratiate you to that part of the constituency that already regards Pirate's Cove as the illegitimate stepchild of the town of Manteo, but they do nothing to contribute to a sense of community or to removing the unfortunate vestiges of ``us and them'' that still remain.
One might have hoped that, as a representative of all of us, you would have taken a larger and more noble view to facilitate positive community relations - but then, that's probably too much to expect from the smoke-filled rooms. How am I to answer my son who wonders, ``Why does Senator Basnight say we don't live in Manteo?'' And if we're really a part of Nags Head, why does one of our finer town council members reside in Pirate's Cove? Why do Manteo policemen patrol our streets? Why do I pay water and sewer taxes to the town of Manteo?
We deserve the same protections afforded to all others, and, with your acquiesence to and participation in this legislative shell game, you have stripped us of those protections. It's difficult enough operating a family business with all of the goofy regulations imposed by layers of government bureaucracy without having to compete with businesses who are the recipients of government favors and preferred treatment.
The Rev. Warrington is right: This is not above-board politics, nor is it fair, decent government. But then, it's becoming clearer that fairness and decency are not the objectives - money and raw power are. When you were elected, you assumed the mantle of public trust. With this astounding violation of that trust, you have shown a flagrant disregard for the will of the people.
Donald Just
Manteo Boozing and boating
Regarding the matter of the recently passed legislation granting Pirate's Cove the authority to serve liquor by the drink:
It is somewhat incomprehensible that responsible esteemed state legislators would condone and even make it possible for a marina environment to be singled out for the express purpose of encouraging the consumption of hard liquor on those premises. It is a well-known and indisputable fact that boozing and boating just don't mix!
Pat Storey
Kitty Hawk Government at worst
In our government, no one individual seeking profit should be able to usurp the democratic process.
Manteo has spoken to the issue of liquor by the drink four times.
North Carolina Rep. Bill Culpepper's clandestine amendment to Senate Bill 57 allowing only one restaurant in the town of Manteo to sell liquor by the drink is government at its worst.
Last month in Town Hall, it was a vote to allow the sale of our sewer capacity to a few, at the expense of the majority.
This month in Raleigh, it was a vote to benefit a single restaurant, against the will of the majority.
What's next?
Terry McDowell
Manteo by CNB