Baker Wants To Give Cities Control Over Liquor Licenses
BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Charlie Baker is asking lawmakers to give cities and towns, except Boston, the power to set quotas for the number of liquor licenses that can be issued to local restaurants.
The state currently caps the number of licenses under a formula based partly on the local population. Any requests for additional liquor licenses must be brought before the Legislature for approval.
The proposal is part of a larger bill introduced by Baker on Monday aimed at updating and streamlining a number of state laws covering municipal governments.
They include a plan to give municipalities the right of first refusal if a property owned by a charitable organization or church is being sold.
Former Gov. Deval Patrick also tried to give cities and towns more control over liquor licenses.
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