On Tuesday, the Pearl Board of Aldermen rejected a citizen-approved ordinance that would have allowed liquor stores to open in the city. This decision went directly against the wishes of the majority of residents who voted on the measure.
Back in June, a non-binding referendum was put on the ballot during the municipal election, asking residents if they wanted to allow liquor and wine shops. Nearly 60% of those who cast a ballot, or 1,198 voters, approved the measure, while only 40.8%, or 827 voters, were against it. This gave the board of aldermen the clear mandate to approve the ordinance and establish regulations for the stores. However, the board had the final say, and by a vote of 5-2, they chose to vote down the ordinance in its entirety.
Pearl’s mayor, Jake Windham, was openly disappointed with the board’s decision. Although he personally didn’t agree with the ordinance, he encouraged the board to approve it based on the public’s vote. He told WLBT, a local news station, that “A 60-40 turnout in an election, that’s a pretty good whooping… We can’t ever forget our people’s voices within our cities.”…