OPINION

EDITORIAL: Bourbon sale leads to misdemeanor charge

The York Dispatch
  • York College adds another presence in downtown.
  • York City is officially an immigrant-friendly city.

Thumbs Down: To the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, which charged a Manchester Township man who was selling a rare bottle of bourbon on Craigslist.

Pappy Van Winkle's bourbon (Courtesy of Flickr)

State liquor agents took notice when they saw a 20-year-old bottle of Pappy Van Winkle's bourbon whiskey advertised online.

They arranged a meeting with seller Wade Collingsworth and slapped him with a misdemeanor charge of selling liquor without a license.

Collingsworth probably didn't even know he was breaking the law.

LCE: Craigslist bourbon sale ends in charges for Yorker

It seems like a lot of work on LCE’s behalf to nab someone who committed such a minor offense. We think there are bigger fish to fry for liquor enforcement.

Thumbs Up: To York College, which is making its presence known in downtown York City.

The college is opening the student-run business Spartan Central in Central Market. The business was developed by sophomore members of the Graham Innovation Scholars program.

York College Bookstore director Lynn Ferro, right, of Springettsbury Township, talks with Center of Community Engagement programming director Jo-Anne Orcutt, of York City, at their new Spartan Central location Thursday, Jan. 19, 2016, in Central Market. This will be the college's first downtown retail location and will be a student-run stand developed and executed by Graham Innovation Scholars. Central Market will hold its grand opening on First Friday, Feb. 3, with a 4 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event is open to the public free of charge. Amanda J. Cain photo

The shop will sell York College-related spirit items.

Each year the incoming sophomore class will take over the shop, with profits being reinvested in the program.

This makes the third property in downtown with the YCP stamp on it. The college owns Marketview Arts and the former Lafayette Club, which will house the school’s Center for Community Engagement offices.

York College students opening Central Market stand

The community should show its support to Spartan Central by attendin a soft opening from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 2 and a grand opening during First Friday on Feb. 3.

The college and city officials have long tried to get the student body to engage in York City. This is just another way to make that a reality.

Thumbs Up: To York City for declaring itself a “welcoming city” for immigrants.

The executive order is meant to encourage members of the immigrant community to work with the York City Police Department, which historically has gotten little cooperation from immigrants.

York City resident Remi Diaz, 44, speaks in support of Mayor Kim Bracey's executive order declaring York City a "welcoming city." Diaz, who is a member of CASA, emigrated from the Dominican Republic in the late 1990s.

“We have had many situations where victims or witnesses have refused to speak with our police because they are worried that if they talked to the police, it would lead to them, a friend or family member being arrested and deported,” York Mayor Kim Bracey said.

She assured them it would not.

Mayor: York City welcomes immigrants

This comes just as Donald Trump takes office with a decidedly anti-immigration stance.

We think the immigrant population in York City needs to hear some supportive language followed up with supportive actions.