Slow News Day?

I suppose given the law of averages, it was bound to happen sooner than later. After all, even the news networks have trouble putting on anything that is halfway compelling 24 hours a day.

So it seems to be the case with the AP. Here's the article:

HEALDSBURG, Calif. Concerned that alcohol merchants are squeezing out other downtown businesses, officials in this wine country hub are mulling a proposal to cap the number of such sellers or impose a temporary ban on new stores.
There are 20 establishments that sell alcohol as their main product within 500 feet of this Sonoma County city's central plaza.In 1998, Healdsburg decided to require use permits for new stores in the immediate vicinity of the plaza. Since then, shops have sprung up on surrounding streets.The City Council may also choose to limit the number of outlets or set a minimum distance requirement between existing wine shops.Critics say the regulations, set to be considered tomorrow, are a bad idea since tourists flock here from around the world mainly for the wine.

In case you read right passed these two unbelievably stupid sentences, here they are again:

"In 1998, Healdsburg decided to require use permits for new stores in the immediate vicinity of the plaza. Since then, shops have sprung up on surrounding streets."

I know the AP is stretched a bit thin in these times of want and woe, but seriously, where the hell else would you expect to find these types of shops.

It's a bit like the folks that fight the good fight, ban alcohol sales on Sundays or even better, all-together, and then are surprised when somebody opens a liquor store just across county/state lines.

Nice.