At 801 E CLARKE ST. , a RENEWAL CLASS "B" TAVERN AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE PREMISES AND TAVERN DANCE AND BOWLING ALLEYS AND CIGARETTE & TOBACCO AND POOL TABLES AND PHONOGRAPH/JUKEBOX PREMISES license was applied for on April 21, 2010 for FALCON BOWL.

At 2402 N DOUSMAN ST. , a RENEWAL CLASS "B" TAVERN AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE PREMISES AND CIGARETTE & TOBACCO AND POOL TABLES AND PHONOGRAPH/JUKEBOX PREMISES license was applied for on April 21, 2010 for THE SQUIRREL CAGE.

At 501 E BURLEIGH ST. , a RENEWAL CLASS "B" TAVERN AND POOL TABLES AND PHONOGRAPH/JUKEBOX PREMISES license was applied for on April 16, 2010 for DELONEY'S LOUNGE.

At 533 E CENTER ST. , a RENEWAL CLASS "B" TAVERN AND TAVERN DANCE AND CIGARETTE & TOBACCO AND POOL TABLES license was applied for on April 15, 2010 for THE MAD PLANET.

At 2630 B N HUMBOLDT BL. , a NEW AUTO WRECKER license was applied for on April 7, 2010 for GUARDS ON DUTY. 

At 505 E CAPITOL DR. , a RENEWAL SECONDHAND MOTOR VEHICLE DEALER license was applied for on April 8, 2010 for U-HAUL CO OF WISCONSIN.

At 900 E CENTER ST. , a RENEWAL CLASS "B" TAVERN AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE PREMISES AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AND RECORD SPIN license was applied for on April 7, 2010 for QUARTERS.

At 1020 E LOCUST ST. , a RENEWAL CLASS "B" TAVERN AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE PREMISES AND TAVERN DANCE AND CIGARETTE & TOBACCO license was applied for on April 7, 2010 for THE TRACKS.

At 920 E LOCUST ST. , a RENEWAL CLASS "B" TAVERN AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE PREMISES AND TAVERN DANCE AND POOL TABLES AND PHONOGRAPH/JUKEBOX PREMISES license was applied for on April 27, 2010 for KLINGER'S EAST.

And in Harambee:
At 3853 N RICHARDS ST. , a RENEWAL CLASS "B" TAVERN AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE PREMISES AND CIGARETTE & TOBACCO license was applied for on April 7, 2010 for VALENT'S BAR.

The "coalition" part is the really big part. The people.

You can get a sense of this from the eloquent and moving words of Alderwoman Coggs at the end of this liquor license hearing a few weeks ago. (You can watch the whole thing or skip to the end of the video here. Scroll down to the item for K P Liquor & Foods, Inc.)

A few blocks closer to Riverwest on the Harambee side of North Ave., Bosses Lounge (Buffum/North) yesterday received a period of suspension but secured a renewal of its license with the support of residents from Riverwest, Harambee, Brewers Hill, and Halyard Park. The bar owner met with residents and agreed to implement a lot of changes to help him keep control of the premises, which have been the site of many calls for police, fights, and gun violence. Most of the changes were volunteered by the owner, who lives above the bar, and he has been voluntarily closed for most of the time since the shootings that took place in January. 

One of the really new things about what's going on in the 6th District and a bit of the 3rd is not just the diversity of our "coalition" but an expressed and demonstrated willingness of participants to:

• Organize their blocks and neighborhoods;
• Create and keep a dialogue going with adjoining neighborhoods about common interests.

There is a new, expressed desire here to assist each other on issues that affect us all, even if it's a location-based issue on the line between or beyond one's own boundary. Often these neighborhood lines work to help organize people, but then the line becomes a border defining "somebody else's problem." This in my view has been a major constraint against the flourishing of potential on and along Holton, North, and King. Past history has also freighted these lines with economic and racial baggage both painful and frustrating. Finally, it seems to me, diversity is actually building strength. Finally individuals are not burning out in frustration from working alone or being sandbagged by intimidation, fear, cowardice, and even immaturity.

You must appear in person and testify as to matters that you have personally experienced or seen. (You cannot provide testimony for your neighbor, parent or anyone else; this is considered hearsay and cannot be considered by the committee.)

This does not mean the only type of testimony you can offer is of the "personal knowledge" variety. The Committee wants relevant, "probative evidence," and they specify a lot of examples, but the State statute leaves a lot of room by allowing allegations that the license applicant "keeps or maintains a disorderly or riotous, indecent or improper house." (The latter clause refers mainly to prostitution and indecent exposure types of "impropriety.") 

Probative evidence is what may be considered concerning nonrenewal, suspension or revocation. That means it may or may not be considered, and it may not be the only evidence considered. The committee has some degree of discretion on this matter. They are increasingly emphasizing (and revising the city code to call for) evidence offered by people who have "personal knowledge" of the evidence.

No letters or petitions can be accepted by the committee (unless the person who wrote the letter or the persons who signed the petition are present at the committee hearing and willing to testify).

This refers to material not previously submitted into the record and file for the item. It is best to have all evidence and supporting material submitted in advance and clear in its provenance--who created it, etc. Signed, dated and even notarized statements help validate written testimony or to verify the source of audio/video material. 

b. Include only information you have personally witnessed or seen.
c. Provide concise and relevant information detailing how this business has affected or may affect the peaceful enjoyment of your neighborhood.

These two points stand in apparent contradiction to each other. What is intended is that you should stick to "personal knowledge" (which may include what cameras have captured), but you can also state more general observations about the environment.

For example:

• "I saw two men leave the bar and fight outside, and their fight continued across the street to my neighbor's doorstep." (Direct eyewitness.)
• "When the bar was closed for three weeks, I found no vomit, trash, urine, unconscious people, and/or shell casings in close proximity, as was previously the case on the following dates which I logged in writing and will now read from, item by item..." (Direct observation of effects attributable to licensed premises.)
• "My walk-in business noticeably decreases when the liquor store next door is open. I attribute this to the frequent loitering and prostitution I have observed, recorded and called in to police, as noted in the police report. By my count, which I submitted into the written record for this item, my walk-in business increased about 80% when the liquor store was closed for two weeks." (Direct observation of damage to the business climate, not a complaint about business competition.) 

A little more about "probative evidence"

Until 2010 this definition was in effect--probative evidence may include evidence of:

• Failure of the applicant to meet the statutory [State] and municipal [City] license qualifications.
• Pending charges against or the conviction of the applicant for any felony, misdemeanor, municipal offense or other offense, the circumstances of which substantially relate to the circumstances of the particular licensed activity, on behalf of the licensee, his or her employees, or patrons.
• The appropriateness of tavern location and premises.
• Neighborhood problems due to management or location.
• If the licensee is a corporation or licensed limited partnership, the conviction of the corporate agent, officers, directors, members or any shareholder holding 20% or more of the corporations total or voting stock, or proxies for that amount of stock, of any of the offenses enumerated in s. 125.12(2)(ag), Wis. Stats., as amended. 
• Failure of the licensee to operate the premise in accordance with the floor plan and plan of operation submitted pursuant to s. 90-5-1-c.
• Any other factor or factors which reasonably relate to the public health, safety and welfare.

This year Section 85-4-4 of the City code (GROUNDS FOR NONRENEWAL, SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION) is being emphasized as the primary definition within s. 90. (LIQUOR AND TAVERN REGULATIONS). Section 85-4-4 reads:

The recommendations of the committee the applicant shall be based on evidence presented at the hearing. Unless otherwise specified in the code, probative evidence concerning nonrenewal, suspension or revocation may include evidence of:

a. Failure of the applicant to meet municipal qualifications.

b. Pending charges against or the conviction of any felony, misdemeanor, municipal offense or other offense, the circumstances of which substantially relate to the circumstances of the particular licensed or permitted activity, by the applicant or by any employe or other agent of the applicant.

c. If the activities of the applicant involve a licensed premise, having been the source of congregations of persons which have resulted in any of the following:

c-1. Disturbance of the peace.

c-2. Illegal drug activity.

c-3. Public drunkenness.

c-4. Drinking in public.

c-5. Harassment of passers-by.

c-6. Gambling.

c-7. Prostitution.

c-8. Sale of stolen goods.

c-9. Public urination.

c-10. Theft.

c-11. Assaults.

c-12. Battery.

c-13. Acts of vandalism, including graffiti.

c-14. Excessive littering.

c-15. Loitering.

c-16. Illegal parking.

c-17. Loud noise at times when the licensed premise is open for business.

c-18. Traffic violations.

c-19. Curfew violations.

c-20. Lewd conduct.

c-21. Display of materials harmful to minors, pursuant to s. 106-9.6.

c-22. Any other factor which reasonably relates to the public health, safety and welfare.

If you wish to express your concerns regarding this application you should contact the License Division by email at license@milwaukee.gov or send a letter to the License Division at 200 E. Wells St., Room 105, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

• Your name
• Your mailing address
• The specific reason for your concerns

You may also wish to call your local Alderperson at (414) 286-2221 to discuss your concerns.

If you have any other questions, please call the City Clerk License Division at (414) 286-2238.

If you wish to express your concerns regarding this application you should contact the License Division by email at license@milwaukee.gov or send a letter to the License Division at 200 E. Wells St., Room 105, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

The email or letter should include the following:

If the email or letter is received in a timely manner, you will receive notification when the application will be scheduled before the appropriate Common Council committee for review and hearing.

You may also wish to call your local Alderperson at (414) 286-2221 to discuss your concerns.

If you have any other questions, please call the City Clerk License Division at (414) 286-2238.

Inviting people, especially current and former Riverwest residents to read my blog for my book. More is explained there in something posted today, but it's basically I recently "patrolled" Riverwest with "real life superheroes" in Riverwest, and I'm wondering if I can get a sense of how the community feels about this through comments on my blog. Please comment if you're inclined, and forward it on if you can. http://www.heroesinthenight.blogspot.com

Thanks much,
Tea

p.s. The blog has an added blooper reel in the comments section of me
arguing with an 800 pound imaginary gorilla.

If you wish to express your concerns regarding this application you should contact the License Division by email at license@milwaukee.gov or send a letter to the License Division at 200 E. Wells St., Room 105, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

The email or letter should include the following: