A Few Important Issues

Support Local Food

The 70/30 law is a twenty-year-old sales ratio that’s no longer compatible with today’s dining culture. It’s antiquated legislation that needs to be removed for small businesses to be able to thrive and grow.

Here’s the gist: In 1983, Minneapolis passed a law that required restaurants and bars outside of downtown and within 500 feet of a residential zone to cap alcohol sales at 30 to 40 percent of their total sales. In addition, guests are technically not allowed to order alcohol until after they’ve placed an order for food. The intention was to prevent noisy drunks and loud bars from disturbing residential neighborhoods. Well, this extreme 70/30 ratio is hurting small, local businesses. Say you’re celebrating and want to order a $100 bottle of wine? Minneapolis restaurants would need to sell $230 worth of food to balance that cost under the 70/30 rule. Or how about a $6 Surly with your $9 burger? You can see how this is a nearly impossible ratio to keep up with.

This law effects more than 70 restaurants in Minneapolis. Restaurants are real economic drivers, they feed us and provide jobs in the community. So this Tuesday, VOTE YES ON 2, and support your local restaurants.

Know What’s in Your Food

I believe that everyone has a right to know what is in their food, that’s why I support the mandatory labeling of GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Currently, the only way to know if a food product is GMO-free is through organic certification or third-party non-GMO verification, such as The Non-GMO Project. GMO labeling gives you the information you need to make educated choices about what you eat and feed your family. In a recent survey of Minnesota House of Representatives candidates, 70 out of 137 respondents indicated that they would support legislation requiring the labeling GMOs. In addition, polls consistently show that nine out of 10 Minnesotans support GMO labeling. Be informed. Find out who supports GMO labeling before you go to the polls.

Leading up to Election Day on Tuesday, November 4th, materials related to GMO labeling are available at the Birchwood Cafe. The Birchwood Cafe is a proud sponsor and coalition member of Right to Know Minnesota, a grassroots advocacy organization that supports mandatory labeling of GMOs foods.

Learn More

GMOs are created by transferring genes from one species to another, in ways that can’t be achieved through natural breeding or reproduction. They are patented plants, animals and micro-organisms that have never before existed in nature or been part of the human diet.

In more than 60 countries around the world, including all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs. In the U.S., the government has approved GMOs based on studies conducted by the same corporations that created them and profit from their sale. (source: Right to Know MN)

GMOs have been linked to many health issues, and as a result more and more of us are wondering what’s in the food we eat. Don’t you think we have the right to know?