About This Page
On August 7th, 2018, the Groton Town Council passed an ordinance with the stated intention of creating regulation and guidelines for BYOB businesses which they believe will improve public safety. However, within policy in a variety of situations on the federal, state, and local level, we often find a dis-junction between the intended versus actual consequences, often because those implementing policy do not understand how their privilege plays into the mechanics of the situation.
This page is not written by the owner or staff of Midnight Hookah. It contains content from many sources, but is managed by a concerned citizen and representative.
The author has no direct involvement with Midnight Hookah: does not smoke hookah, does not frequent the establishment, does not have friends who go there, had not even heard of the place prior to learning of this ordinance.
Why does this page exist? Every person deserves a voice. The owner of Midnight Hookah, Hassam Abudawood, is an immigrant to this country, the embodiment of the American Dream, working hard to build a business and make his own success. The municipal government of Groton is complex, the politics more so. Even some who hold elected office haven't fully wrapped their heads around it. Mr. Abudawood finds that very machine to be about to destroy the business that he has poured so much of his own time and money to building.
Should a lack of insider knowledge doom a man to lose his business because of political forces outside of his awareness or understanding? No. Not in America, it should not. That is why this page exists. To give a voice to a good man doing his best to run a good business and serve the good, law abiding, tax paying citizens who patronize it.
Some have suggested that this page should not have been made. They have suggested that Mr. Abudawood should have been left on his own. It has even been said by one person that it was inappropriate for anyone from the town to reach out to him in the first place. Every American who loves the democratic principles upon which this nation was founded should be offended by such ideas.
The democratic process requires an open exchange of ideas and vigorous debate, not dense legal language, difficult politic process, and reticent representatives. When people of different backgrounds, different interests, but all sharing the common goals of a prosperous and safe community come together, that is when Democracy thrives.
Of the people, for the people, by the people. Mr. Abudawood is an American citizen and deserves the right to be heard as much as anyone else. For this reason, this page exists.
This page is not written by the owner or staff of Midnight Hookah. It contains content from many sources, but is managed by a concerned citizen and representative.
The author has no direct involvement with Midnight Hookah: does not smoke hookah, does not frequent the establishment, does not have friends who go there, had not even heard of the place prior to learning of this ordinance.
Why does this page exist? Every person deserves a voice. The owner of Midnight Hookah, Hassam Abudawood, is an immigrant to this country, the embodiment of the American Dream, working hard to build a business and make his own success. The municipal government of Groton is complex, the politics more so. Even some who hold elected office haven't fully wrapped their heads around it. Mr. Abudawood finds that very machine to be about to destroy the business that he has poured so much of his own time and money to building.
Should a lack of insider knowledge doom a man to lose his business because of political forces outside of his awareness or understanding? No. Not in America, it should not. That is why this page exists. To give a voice to a good man doing his best to run a good business and serve the good, law abiding, tax paying citizens who patronize it.
Some have suggested that this page should not have been made. They have suggested that Mr. Abudawood should have been left on his own. It has even been said by one person that it was inappropriate for anyone from the town to reach out to him in the first place. Every American who loves the democratic principles upon which this nation was founded should be offended by such ideas.
The democratic process requires an open exchange of ideas and vigorous debate, not dense legal language, difficult politic process, and reticent representatives. When people of different backgrounds, different interests, but all sharing the common goals of a prosperous and safe community come together, that is when Democracy thrives.
Of the people, for the people, by the people. Mr. Abudawood is an American citizen and deserves the right to be heard as much as anyone else. For this reason, this page exists.
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