Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 4, 1990 TAG: 9003042162
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Sens. Robert Scott and Yvonne Miller are unhappy with the legislation, which could be used during a disaster such as the riots in Virginia Beach over Labor Day last year.
About 100,000 black college students gathered in the resort city last year for a celebration known as Greekfest.
More than 100 businesses were looted and an estimated $1.4 million in damages was caused during the riot, in which black youths clashed with city police in riot gear.
The Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services on Friday approved the bill, which was introduced by Del. Glenn McClanan, D- Virginia Beach.
Scott, D-Newport News and the Senate's second black member, called the bill "a gratuitous insult" to people planning to return to the beach Labor Day. "This bill clearly suggests that these people are not wanted."
Miller, D-Norfolk, said the bill would undermine city tourism and blemish the state's "Virginia is for Lovers" image.
"This bill is sending a message that Virginia is only for, in quotes, acceptable people," she said. "That's a very negative message to send across the nation."
The committee voted 9-6 to approve the bill, which almost was killed two weeks ago.
On Feb. 16, the committee defeated motions to approve the bill and to kill it, leaving the measure in limbo.
After complicated procedural maneuvers, the committee revived the bill Friday and sent it to the full Senate, where more debate is likely.
"I might say a word or two," Scott said.
The bill was amended to make clear that it would not affect state ABC stores. The committee also stripped a provision that would have given a city's top law enforcement official power to cut off sales.
In the earlier hearing, Scott and others said the bill was unnecessary because the governor and the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board already have power to cut off alcohol sales in an emergency.
Gladys Harris, chairwoman of the ABC Board, told the committee that she was prepared during last year's riot to order licensed retailers to stop selling alcohol.
However, she said, the board never was asked to act.
Scott said Friday that a commission appointed by Virginia Beach to analyze the riot decided not to support legislation to give the city power to cut off alcohol sales.
Virginia Beach legislators defend the proposal, which they say is necessary to prevent alcohol from fueling violence.
They also say that seeking ABC board approval for a sales cutoff is impractical when rioting breaks out late at night.
They say their appeals to then-Gov. Gerald Baliles last year for action were fruitless.
by CNB