CONVENIENCE STORES BOOST MISERY INDEX

Gambling machines, lottery tickets, beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes,
blunts, overpriced junk food, and the list goes on and on.

All of these items are geared to extract as much cash as possible from
the patrons who buy these "misery" items. The sad part is that these
items are mostly found in so-called "convenience" stores in the
poorest neighborhoods in Savannah. Combine these items with a very
thriving crack cocaine market and you have a true recipe for economic
disaster.

We in the Victorian District are currently fighting to halt the
placement of yet another source of misery in the form of a liquor
store to be placed right in the midst of our mostly residential
neighborhood. A Time magazine article on Nov. 1 cited a study
conducted in Great Britain that concluded that alcohol was the most
dangerous drug followed by heroin and crack cocaine. Why in the world
would Savannah approve a liquor store that would increase the
availability and access to alcohol?

Savannah should be working diligently to decrease the availability of
drugs and alcohol and should also be following the lead of Michelle
Obama to encourage the poor to make healthier food choices.

MIKE HORNER

Savannah