City Council to Decide on Beer at Ft. Marcy

The Santa Fe City Council is slated to make a decision tomorrow night on whether beer should be sold at Fort Marcy Park during low-level professional baseball games.

The Pecos League, which has teams in southeastern New Mexico and Texas, wants to bring a team to Fort Marcy’s ballpark in 2012. League officials say revenue from beer sales is necessary to make a club feasible in Santa Fe.

But the proposal has stirred controversy in the City Different. Some residents say selling beer sends the wrong message to a city with a history of alcohol-related problems. Others have have raised quality of life questions about bringing the Pecos League to the park.

Supporters say the baseball league would provide Santa Fe with economic benefits and give residents something to do on a Saturday night. They also argue that people can be trusted to watch a game and drink responsibly.

A public hearing is on the City Council’s 7 p.m. agenda.