HARRISBURG, April 3, 2013 – Gov. Tom Corbett today told Reading business leaders how important it is to sell the state’s successful and profitable liquor stores, but he delivered the message in the wrong city, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) said today.
“Reading is in the midst of an economic struggle similar to other cities and towns in Pennsylvania. Likewise, it is fraught with a rising crime rate, which was the catalyst for the recent crime summit the governor attended. To make it easier for more people to buy more beer and liquor will only add to our problems,” Schwank said. “This is not the kind of help or direction we need from Harrisburg.
“Even the governor’s promise to turn over the proceeds of the liquor sell-off, if it happens, is weak. What will school districts do when the money is spent? This is a carrot-and-stick ploy that will taste more like sawdust when there are no more state-owned liquor stores and the ability to buy alcohol lurks on every corner.
“There will be 5,000 new wine and beer licenses issued if Gov. Corbett gets his way. Too many of those news establishments will be in my district and the social ills they create will only exacerbate Reading’s and Berks County’s problems.
“Forty percent of violent crimes involve the consumption of alcohol as do 40 percent of all fatal automobile crashes. Communities that have more bars and liquor stores per capita experience more violent crime.
“Our system of selling spirits should be updated, and I support the modernization legislation that is being proposed in the Senate.”
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.