By Auday Arabo // MIRA President & CEO
For over 40 years Michigan has had what is commonly referred to as the half mile rule. As you know, this rule, with a few exceptions, prohibits another store within a half mile of you from selling liquor if you already do. Is the half mile rule important to you? How important is it? What does it mean to your business and how much is the rule worth to you? The answers to these questions is what we need to hear from you on.
Unfortunately, in case you have not heard, the MLCC secretly eliminated the half mile rule on March 23rd. Departing from the traditional rule making process the MLCC wrongfully used an expedited process that disallowed public hearings and legislative oversight. The MIRA has filed suit against several state entities to stop the elimination of the half mile rule and we will have our day in court but we need your help.
Will you make calls, write letters, contribute to our Political Action Committee or our Legal Defense Fund? We need your help as time is of the essence as we work on passing legislation to get this issue away from the MLCC and into state law. People in Lansing need to know why this rule is important to you and what it means for your business. You have invested a lot of time and money in your business and the elimination of the half mile rule could have a decimating effect on everything you have worked for. Please send your letters to the MIRA office at the address below.
MIRA has spent $20,000 on this effort already. Please consider writing a letter or email and submit it to our office and we will get it in front of those who need to see it. Additionally, call the numbers below and tell them why the half mile rule is important to you. If you are willing to help finance this effort any contribution to our Political Action Committee or the Legal Defense Fund is very much needed.
