Conference 7.286::maynard

    I feel that limiting the hours or days that stores can be open is
    a lame attempt to solve the problem, and is an gross abridgement
    of the principle of free enterprise.  If there are traffic problems,
    those have to be solved by other channels.  
    
    I frequently go to the Purity Supreme in Acton and the White Hen Pantry
    in West Concord during "off" hours.  The fact that there's enough
    business to sustain these off hours means there's a need to keep
    these stores open. 

    I think there's a conflict in rights here.
    
    The streets referred to used to be nice, quiet areas.  Now the traffic
    goes by them day and night.  (And I'm one of the offenders--I live
    where it's easier to cut through than go around.)  I sympathize
    with the people who live on those streets, because some of the traffic
    comes fairly close to my house, but a few blocks away.
    
    Nobody gets a guarantee that a neighborhood will stay quiet when
    they buy a house--but high traffic is a nuisance also.  That's why
    NO THRU TRAFFIC signs were invented (and are allowed).  But merchants
    and shoppers have rights too (I guess).

    
    Seems to me that the stores must contribute, but not greatly,
    especially since the Star Market opened again in Stow.  The other
    contributor to increased flow along those roads could well have
    been (will be?) due to the confusion/congestion in Maynard with
    all the "improvements" they've been doing.

    What can I do as a Maynard to prevent such a stupid law from being
    passed?  Limiting store hours in a community is a typical example
    of the kind of repressive socialist laws that I hate and that New
    England is famous for.  The inaccessibility of shopping at late
    hours is one of the many frustrations of life out here in the back
    woods.  I am continually thankful for such hold-outs as the Purty
    (otherwise a disgusting place to shop).

    The proposed by-law was soundly defeated at Acton Town Meeting on
    Tuesday.  This was the third time High Street residents have tried
    to force this issue.  I think maybe this time they will give up.
    

    Re .4
    
    >>  ... a typical example
    >> of the kind of repressive socialist laws that I hate and that New
    >> England is famous for.

    Sounds like New England doesn't have much to offer an unrepressed 
    troglodyte.  George III felt pretty much the same way. He went away.
    
    David
    
    
    

    Re .4:
    
    Please don't blame all New England for what the People's Republic
    of Massachusetts is famous for.  Just as Massachusetts pols tend
    to forget there's life beyond Route 128, Taxachussens forget that
    "New England" also includes Rhode Island, Connecticut, Veermont,
    New Hampshire, and Maine (which was once part of Massachusetts,
    but went away).
    
    Re .6:
    
    Is your implication that most Massachusetts citizens are _repressed_
    troglodytes? :-)  
    
    Re question:
    
    24-hour stores are a useful function.  I've used Store 24 and Purity
    Supreme in Maynard, when necessaary.  A store like Purity (which
    isn't _that_ bad) has the added advantage over the so-called
    "convenience" stores that its prices are competitive with other
    supermarkets.  Usually, the only time I'll use any 24-hour store
    is when there's a truly pressing need; then, I'm glad it's there.
    [On a trip about six weeks ago, I was in a section of Florida where
    convenience stores weren't as common as in Massachusetts, and I
    had a real need to get some flashlight batteries.  It took me more
    than half an hour to find a store, and I've never knocked a 24-hour
    store since.]
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr. 
    

    RE: .7  "Purity Supreme in Maynard"
    
    The Purity Supreme "in Maynard" is actually in the southernmost
    corner of Acton.  One of the proponents of this article cited various
    traffic counts on High Street, turning in to the shopping plaza.
    What they didn't mention is that traffic coming off of Rte. 62 from
    either Maynard or West Concord, enters the area by turning on to
    High Street.  The Town of Acton forced this design on the 
    developers to eliminate traffic hazards inherent in direct access
    to a state road.  This makes the counts used by the residents of
    High Street somewhat erroneous, in that not all the traffic turning
    off High Street traveled the length of High Street to get there.

    Re .8:
    
    Dennis is, of course, correct.  Purity _is_ in Acton (it even says
    so on the register tapes), though it's sort of in Greater Maynard.
    :-)
    
    Store 24 _is_ in Maynard, and has been used on occasion (like when
    my wife wanted a certain brand of popcorn).
    
    Of course, the Maynard Motel on Powdermill Road is also in Acton
    ('cept for a rain gutter), so you never know.  Come to think of
    it, Maynard Supply is also in Acton, diagonally across the street
    from the plaza with the "Maynard" Purity Supreme....
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.
    

I could clarify a little - it is not ALL of New England that is famous for
having a slightly socialist bent.  Massachusetts is where "Jerrymandering"
was invented, after all, and politics has been around here longer than in
most of the U.S.  (I was also against the bottle bill, because I didn't
believe that it would really help the litter problem, and that it was an
unwarrented interference in free enterprise.)

In a way, it seems odd to have New Hampshire so close.  From what I hear,
New Hampshire is a pretty lawless anarchy as far as states go.  (although
I think they do have a bottle bill there too.) I mean really, they
actually make their residents blazen their license plates with "Live Free
or Die"!  There are some countries in Eastern Europe where you could be
shot for putting that on a bumper sticker (assuming you had a car)!

    Jeff,
    
    	After implementation, are you still against the bottle bill.
    I sure think it has reduced litter.
    
    						Mark
    
    P.S. Sorry for wandering off the topic.

    re .10
    
    I think you mean "totalitarian" when you say "socialist". Blue laws,
    after all, are a refuge of religion, gerrymandering an offense
    by oligarchy, and while there are countries in Eastern Europe where
    you will be assisted in resolving your dilemma of whether to "live 
    free or die", the same is true in South Africa and Chile.
    
    David
    

    ...and Mass.
    
    dk

    Re/ .10:
    
    I think the New Hampshire license plate slogan, "Live Free or Die!",
    was a response to the Ohio license plate slogan, "Seat belts fastened?"

    Then there was the gentleman who was prosecuted for defacing public
    property when he taped over the "or Die" on his NH license plate.
    
    I don't think this is a good example of "lawlessness", but rather
    totalitarianism.

This is all part of why living in USA is so great!  Totalitarian tactics
live peacefully alongside lawlessness.  Everyone has their own agenda, and
is doing their best to follow it.  We all sit and hope that the free
economy will sort it all out eventually.  (When you think about it, our
political system is a sort of free economy in itself.  Politicians who
perform badly enough will stir the hearts of the populace enough to get
them out to vote against them.)

Regarding the questions brought up earlier:

 I have not personally experienced any less litter as a result of the
bottle bill, but I would not doubt measurements that showed it had a
positive effect on reducing BOTTLES littered.  I was never into counting
bottles. I still see a lot of littered bottles and cans, even within
walking distance of the store 24, which gives kids a nickel apiece for
them.  (Too bad more Maynard kids don't have the entrepreneural spirit of
the few I have seen collecting them.  Three cheers for those that do!)

I am still waiting for the return of the more ecologicaly sound REFILLABLE
GLASS BOTTLE.  This is the best tasting form that Coke comes in, and all
local supplies of the stuff DISAPPEARED coincident with the bottle bill.
Also, the paper cup swill we are forced to get from Tobin vending machines
now is a direct result of the bottle bill.  Because of the hassle in
getting the cans back, Tobin's banned the vending of cans.  In short, the
bottle bill has deteriorated my personal quality of life.

Even without all that, I would STILL be against the bottle bill, because
it is aimed so narrowly at carbonated beverages.  The most offensive
litter, to me, is the paper trash from MacD's and similar institutions.
Should MacD litter have a littering tax on take-out?  Howabout a rebate on
returned cigarette butts? I hate those too.  Oh, spare me, please.  There
must be a better way!

However: I think, given our free economy, that forcefully adjusting prices
is a practical way for the governemnt to manipulate our behavior.  A
little bit of this is needed to keep a free economy from running wild,
stealing the consumer blind, and trashing the earth for future
generations.  This is why the voting public insists on anti-pollution
laws, FCC class B computer equipment, FDA testing of drugs, driver's
licences, and all that kind of stuff.  They all cause governemt induced
costs that interfere with totally free economy, but are needed to prevent
greed from totally supplanting social responsibility.

Now, I use the word "socialism" intentionally, not totalitarianism,
because as I understand it, socialism is the extereme case of government
interference in the economy.  I call Massachusetts socialist, because
compared to other states, we have more laws that interfere with the free
economy, usually with the intent of providing consumer protection.  At the
top of the list is state regulated auto insurance rates.  In other states
the free economy works just fine.  (Footnote: Because MA insurance law
prevents discrimination against young male drivers, the MA laws saved me
several hundred dollars in my first years of residence.  Now that I am
older, there may not be a personal benefit to this anymore.)  Also on this
list are a lot of landloard/tennant laws the reduce the profitability of
leasing and encourage condonization of all available rental housing.

Please, I am not saying that ALL of these laws are bad, but be aware of
the consequences.  A law that prevents all-night stores in one town
(Acton) WILL reduce the quality of life in that town, because its
residents will be forced to travel to the next town (Maynard) to shop at
off-hours.  In a world of two-income families, that amounts to a lot of
shopping.  They may get used to the stores in the next town.  Did it do
the town any good to drive the local businesses away?

I've run on too long, and will end here.

    In response to possible further warrant articles inserted by the
    residents of High Street, the Acton Bored of Selectfew announced
    that they will do a traffic study of the area.  Maybe they can get
    the stores to pay for it.
    
    

Re .17:

>Because of the hassle in getting the cans back, Tobin's banned the vending
>of cans.

Tobin's opinion may be irrelevant to this - I distinctly recall receiving a
memo after the bottle bill passed which stated that:

1.  Digital was directing vendors to remove machines which dispensed
deposit containers from the premises.

2.  Any deposit containers from meeting refreshments paid for by Digital,
belonged to Digital, and could not be taken by meeting attendees.

In spite of a provision in the bottle bill which stated that containers
sold for consumption on-premises do not have to have deposits on them.
				/AHM

    Well, the High Street Beddybye Bill was finally passed this evening by
    a vote of 69 to 66 at the Acton Town Meeting.  In effect, it says that
    Purity Supreme may not be open between midnight and 6:00 a.m.
    
    I noticed a few people rushing in with their coats on at the last
    minute to vote in favor of this warrant article.  I overheard them
    explaining to one of the tellers that they had been watching the
    meeting on cable television and when this article came up about
    10:15, they rushed right over.
    
    How's that for democracy in action?  |-(
    

re: -1
>    How's that for democracy in action?  |-(
    
It stinks.  I'm all for Home Rule, but telling a business establishment when it
can or cannot be open is just another example of left-over, archaic Blue Laws
being resurrected from the dead.  And for the benefit of whom?

Or, am missing something?  (i.e. is there a "logical" (read legitimate) reason
for not letting Purity Supreme stay open between Midnight and 6:00 A.M.?)

Kip

    Does anybody know the particulars of the "High Street Beddybye Bill"
    that was passed?  When is it supposed to take effect? 
    
    I shopped at Purity Supreme late last night (about 1 a.m.) and asked
    one of the clerks what the deal was.  She (taking the role of an
    impromptu company spokesperson... 3rd shift folks have to wear many
    hats ;^) said that P.S. is NOT going to close from 12:00 to 6:00 a.m.
    and will do whatever is necessary to get around the bill. 
    
    Then again, the woman I spoke with has a lot of reason to hope that
    P.S. won't close... her job may depend on it.  Anybody know if/when
    the bill will really take effect?  (and when I'll have to succumb
    to Store 24's criminal prices for late night shopping?)

    Ever since the night my husband insisted on stopping at the 24
    hr.Purity for a couple of magazines and some munchies I have hated
    it. I think it has something to do with the fact that it was 4:00
    in the morning and I was in labor with our first child.
     
                                

You problem is NOT with the Purity Supreme... :-)

    Last night at a special town meeting, the voters of Acton amended
    the late night store closing bylaw to allow Purity Supreme to remain
    open because they were open 24 hours/day before the bylaw was passed.