CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Highland Park residents Wednesday night urged the City Council to reconsider a decision not to amend a prohibition-era ordinance that prohibits council members from having liquor licenses, which impacts a newly-elected member.
Supporters of Jeff Hoobler, council member and co-owner of Ravinia Brewing Company, said its not about him, it’s about the ordinance.
Resident Linda Feinstein said it tells some members of the community they can’t participate in elected government and citizens can’t vote for them.
"This ordinance takes that decision out of my hands and it's fundamentally undemocratic and for that reason I think this ordinance is terrible public policy."
Another resident said the law is "ridiculous."
"I highly doubt that the bootleggers of the 1930's have any present designs on taking over local Highland Park government," he added. "That's obviously why the law was made and it's no longer necessary."
The city has received a couple hundred emails supporting amending the ordinance that the Illinois Restaurant Association calls “archaic and undemocratic.”
It’s expected to be considered at a future meeting. Meanwhile, Hoobler said he’d resign at the end of this month.
The next council meeting is on April 24.
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