By Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

I often brag about Somerville’s restaurant scene. In some of our city squares, a walk around the block is like taking a culinary trip around the world. Somerville has become known for its eclectic, authentic eateries. In fact, Somerville has a more than $120  million annual restaurant industry. All those small, local businesses add up to something big.

Yet an artificial restraint has been placed around this thriving, largely owner-operated business sector. Simply put, new restaurants are finding it hard to locate in Somerville because they cannot get the liquor licenses they need for their establishments. The sale of wine, beer and liquor is an important component of turning a profit in the restaurant industry.

Right now Somerville is authorized by the Commonwealth to issue 84 all-alcoholic beverages serving licenses, with 10 of those licenses reserved for development in Assembly Square, and 16 beer and wine licenses. Meanwhile, the City of Cambridge is authorized to issue unlimited all-alcoholic beverage licenses and unlimited beer and wine licenses. The Town of Arlington is authorized to issue unlimited beer and wine licenses.

It is time for Somerville to be given the same sort of discretion. We are literally turning business away from our community under the current system. You can have a great restaurant concept that would be a perfect fit in one of our city squares, but you may have to locate elsewhere because you cannot assume you will be able to get the liquor license that is essential to your business plan.

In some cases, a restaurant may only want a beer and wine license, but it has to consider paying an extra $3,000 per year for an all-alcoholic beverages license because that is the only type of license that is available. The current system makes no sense; not for the small businesses trying to get the right licenses, not for a city looking to support its small businesses.

Our Licensing Commission has the policies and procedures in place to make a thoughtful determination of when to award a liquor license. We know our community better than the State. We understand our city squares and we see where business opportunity best presents itself in our city. We do not need an arbitrary cap on liquor licenses confusing matters.

Just as the City does a better job of running local recreational facilities than the State, it is better positioned to serve its local business community.

Somerville needs and deserves the freedom to grow its thriving local restaurant scene. That is why I have submitted a proposal to the Board of Aldermen to send a Home Rule Petition to the State, seeking the same liquor licensing flexibility granted to our neighbors.

This is both common sense and good business. Ultimately it means jobs and increased economic activity in our city. I hope to see swift passage of this petition by the Aldermen and the Statehouse. It is far better that our community be given the right to rule itself on this matter than remain beholden to this counterproductive leftover of Prohibition Era thinking.