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Once again, our esteemed Metro Council put on another fine performance earlier this week when the group met to decide whether to 1) allow grocery and convenience stores to sell wine and alcohol on Sundays; and 2) grant Pinnacle Entertainment's request to get an item allowing the expansion of gaming in East Baton Rouge on a July 21 election date.

In short, the council punted the decision on wine and alcohol sales to the voters, opting to put the matter on the Oct. 20 ballot. And the group rejected Pinnacle's request by a single vote, though it's likely the council will approve, if asked, a measure to put the issue before parish voters in October.

But the real highlight to this meeting, as always, was the amazing nuggets of logic put forth by our public officials. If you missed the festivities, Cox 21 will rebroadcast the meeting Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

As I watched in real time, here were the questions rattling through my brain:

-- How can "Bones" Addison claim the moral high ground on Sunday alcohol sales, yet he has no moral issue with the gaming industry? He even worked at one time for a gambling operation in this state. Why, Mr. Addison, is gambling morally fine, but not a glass of wine on Sunday afternoon?

-- Why are we tiptoeing on the Sunday liquor issue? Give Addison credit for making the point it's ridiculous to suggest it's OK for Winn-Dixie to sell a bottle of wine on Sunday, but not OK for The Wine Loft to open and sell Pinot Noir by the glass. He's right: This should be an all-or-nothing vote.

-- Wayne Carter said people who want to buy liquor on Sundays must not have a job to go to on Mondays. So what's the deal with all those folks who are drinking Monday through Thursday? Based on bar attendance on those nights, unemployment in this parish must be epic.

-- If Councilman Pat Culbertson and the St. George Fire Chief are going to argue against Pinnacle's plans for building its entertainment mecca on the grounds the Nicholson-Bluebonnet area lacks the roads and proper fire and police protection, will they make the same arguments against Mike Wampold's proposed massive development right across the street? Do they really believe the Pinnacle project will put a greater strain on the system than all the current and proposed developments in that area?

I must confess, I have made similar arguments in my efforts to curb sprawl in this parish. And each time the development community comes back firing, saying the jobs created and the property and sales taxes generated more than covers the cost. If that's the case -- an argument Mr. Culbertson apparently buys since he regularly approves these new developments -- then why would not the same be true with Pinnacle's $250 million-plus project?

-- Darrell Ourso isn't running for re-election, we hear, but does he have a job lined up with Pinnacle? Never have I seen an elected official pimp harder for a development. He made some excellent points, but his sales pitch ultimately failed.

-- If Pinnacle made tires or steel, would there be this much controversy over the company wanting to set up operations in Baton Rouge? Would state and local officials be scrambling to offer incentives to keep them from going elsewhere?

-- Why on a project this important was Mayor Kip Holden not at the meeting to weigh in on the issue? He saw fit to register his views on libraries, but chose to watch this debate on television from the comfort of his office. This is a big issue, and residents of this parish deserve to know where our mayor stands on the Pinnacle matter. Don't we?

-- Why does Lorri Burgess show up for these meetings? She sat in her chair, and then chose not to vote on letting the people vote on Sunday alcohol sales and Pinnacle issues. What's up with that? Vote yes. Vote no. Abstain. Do something, but don't just sit there and do nothing. How is that representing her constituents? She was gutless, and I hope voters keep that in mind when she runs for the state House of Representatives.

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