Arbor Brewing Co.'s Matt Greff gets spot on new Michigan liquor control committee
Matt Greff, co-owner of downtown Ann Arbor restaurant Arbor Brewing Co., was appointed to a new committee set up to examine Michigan's liquor control system regulations.
Arbor Brewing Co. co-owner Matt Greff was appointed to a Michigan liquor controls committee.
File photo | AnnArbor.com
The committee is expected to recommend the elimination of particularly onerous provisions of the liquor control system. The state said the committee would have 120 days to seek to "ensure that the regulations are simple, fair, transparent and efficient, and conducive to business growth and job creation."
The state said it received nearly 70 applications to fill spots on the advisory committee.
Gov. Rick Snyder, a former Ann Arbor venture capitalist, formed the Office of Regulatory Reinvention to streamline the state's regulatory structure and eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies.
“A comprehensive review of Michigan’s liquor control rules and regulations is overdue,” said Rob Nederhood, deputy director of the ORR, in a statement.
Arbor Brewing Co. owners Matt and Renee Greff are typically known to be supporters of Democratic Party politicians but they surprised colleagues by publicly supporting Snyder during the 2010 election. They also own the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti.
Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.
Comments
C. S. Gass
Sat, Aug 6, 2011 : 9:03 p.m.
Nice Matt! Great to know that the support you showed paid off in such a way. We all know you'll do a huge service to the bar owners and brewers in this state. It's nice to see some sense out of government, putting people who have been there and know what they're doing in the right place. Now hold them to it and Good Luck!
rusty shackelford
Sat, Aug 6, 2011 : 4:38 p.m.
Hard to believe the naïveté of most of the comments here. The alcohol distributors' lobby is arguably the most powerful one in state politics. And they use their influence to make life as hard as possible for LOCAL businesses including ABC, Founders, Bells, and other Michigan breweries that actually produce things for a living despite the onerous and usually senseless regulations put on them to benefit the middlemen. Some balance is long overdue!
Matt Greff
Sat, Aug 6, 2011 : 2:48 p.m.
Thank you all for your comments! No, this is most definitely not a paid position and it's not an example of the fox guarding the henhouse. This is a temporary 120 day committee that brings together a wide swath of individuals from the alcohol, public health, and law enforcement communities to talk about what's working and what's not and give our recommendations to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission as to how they can improve this important segment of our economy. And my hat off to Rick Snyder for appointing a Big Government Democrat like myself to a committee like this. It's time we all worked together to make Michigan better and stop tearing each other down.
f4phantomII
Sat, Aug 6, 2011 : 8:41 p.m.
Everybody happy now? I couldn't disagree more with Matt's politics but he is a wonderful guy, outstanding brewer, and a great saloon keeper. He is more than qualified to serve on this committee and will be a welcome addition. Can't we just get along?
Ignatz
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 9:11 p.m.
This is great news. Matt is a solid guy. Maybe he can help bring free market ideas to the state by eliminating the state minimum pricing.
15crown00
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 6:32 p.m.
once again sucking up pays
Tom Joad
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 6:03 p.m.
time to do away with the restrictions against importing wine or liquor from other states. The State of Michigan is violating the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution in denying the interstate transportation of my booze.
alan
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.
Any regulatory position that I've ever heard of requires one to divest their personal interest. Will this happen? There are reasons for avoiding conflicts of interest. By the way, "Office of Regulatory Reinvention"? Is that for real or a Monty Python skit?
David Bardallis
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 5:46 p.m.
Recommend abolition -- all bureaucracy is by definition "inefficient."
Wolf's Bane
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 5:35 p.m.
Did not realize prostitution was legal in Michigan? I WILL NEVER go to ABC ever again.
f4phantomII
Sat, Aug 6, 2011 : 8:34 p.m.
Good. It's crowded enough.
M-Fan
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 5:27 p.m.
Sure does.....you get to make the regulations that controll your business....kind of of good deal! POWER TO THE DOLLAR!
John of Saline
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 5:47 p.m.
Are you arguing that businesses should have no say at all in regulatory efforts?
Chris P. Frey
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 5:27 p.m.
The addition of Matt onto the newly formed Liquor Control Advisory Rules Committee is a big plus. He and Renee have, like virtually every other microbrewery and brew pub in the state, have experienced first hand the pitfalls of onerous regulations, and I am confident that he will be both a reasoned and passionate voice for doing the right thing(s). They represent model business people in their community, providing jobs, reducing their energy needs, engaging their neighbors and helping countless local organizations through a myriad of various mechanisms. And in the end, they also serve some pretty tasty beers ;-)
Wolf's Bane
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 5:37 p.m.
I have never heard of any Republicans making anything tasty, including beers.
M-Fan
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 5:29 p.m.
Sorry for that vote, you were posted while I was writing
Cash
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 4:51 p.m.
So...it pays to support Snyder for election eh? Is this a paid position?
Cash
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 8:57 p.m.
Nathan, who is "the state"?
Nathan Bomey
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 6:38 p.m.
@Cash, I asked the state. No, this is not a paid position and expenses are not reimbursed, I'm told.
Wolf's Bane
Fri, Aug 5, 2011 : 5:35 p.m.
Paid in other ways, get my drift.