Last night I attended the Alcohol License Review Committee (ALRC) meeting in support of Club Majestic. Surprisingly, there was little discussion in regards to renewing the liquor license. Thankfully a representative from Capitol Neighborhoods Inc (CNI) spoke in favor of renewing and recounted the willingness of the establishment to maintain a dialog with the neighborhood and remain committed to reducing problems and implementing solutions. The renewal was unanimously passed with a handful of new conditions added that weren’t opposed by the Schiavo family, the owners of Club Majestic.

However the discussion on two other agendas were interesting.

The first was the discussion on the proposed remodeling of Wando’s. Wando’s was ordered by the city to improve the outside appearance of the building and to replace the third floor windows. They’d like to use this as an opportunity to expand the bar into the third floor. Currently the third floor is an apartment that provides only $800 of income a month. They’d like to convert that space into another bathroom, kitchen, service bar and more table room for serving food. Wando’s would like to take advantage of increased crowds during events at the Kohl Center and university sporting events. They’ve requested their capacity to be doubled once the remodeling is complete. The current capacity is 99. Part of the reasoning of the increase is to specifically address concerns of the neighborhood. There have been complaints about the crowd that gathers outside Wando’s on many nights. It’s hoped that if more people could comfortably fit inside the bar, the crowd outside would be reduced.

It sounds like a perfectly reasonable request, but a wrench has been thrown into the works. Apparently changes to a liquor license or remodeling must now be first reviewed by CNI before the ALRC will vote on a measure. It is reasonable to discuss changes with the neighborhood, but CNI is not the neighborhood. Wando’s is in the State-Langdon neighborhood. CNI is an umbrella organization that exerts control over and claims to represent the following neighborhoods; First Settlement, Bassett, Mansion Hill, State-Langdon, Mifflin West and James Madison Park. When dealing with CNI, you aren’t dealing with your neighbors, you’re dealing with a few unelected individuals with an agenda. Part of their agenda is to reduce bar capacities throughout the isthmus. They intend to remake Madison in their vision and our elected officials have thus far been a facilitator. It’s a complete subversion to our local democratic process. At least one member of the ALRC, Marsh Shapiro, raised questions about this arrangement and asked for clarification on the process business owners are now subject to. The rest of the members however are apparently comfortable with an unelected body having so much influence on a businesses future. The discussion on the remodeling of Wando’s has been rescheduled for next month to give time for CNI to review the plan. CNI will likely oppose the request to increase capacity. However, Wando’s has a deadline to improve the exterior and replace the third story windows. That’s bureaucracy at it’s finest. He’s ordered to improve his building, and then when he introduces his plan, he’s told the debate must be rescheduled. It’s unclear if the city will extend the deadline for the required improvements.

The second discussion that interested me was the renewal of Brother’s liquor license. One member of the committee, David Hart, kept raising questions about the dress code. Brother’s explained that three years ago in response to problems at the bar, the police department recommended a dress code. Brother’s adopted the dress code and problems decreased. Hart wanted to know why a dress code reduced problems. Brother’s didn’t have an answer for that. They just know problems did decrease. Hart was basically dancing around the issue. Everyone in the room could tell he felt the dress code was racist. When told by the owner of Brother’s that the dress code is not meant as a tool to discriminate against specific groups, Hart became defensive and said he did not say it was discriminating. Eventually the rest of the committee grew tired of discussing a dress code that was recommended by the police department and approved by previous ALRC hearings and the renewal was put to a vote. Hart requested a roll call vote and he was the only member that voted against the renewal. From that point on, Hart was visibly upset, rolling his eyes and muttering. In some cases, while other business was being discussed, Hart’s muttering was loud enough for me to hear what he was saying. I was sitting across the room and throughout the night I often had to strain to hear speakers. The fact that I was able to hear Hart’s comments demonstrates that he intended for people to notice his frustration. Hart was basically acting childish and I believe that kind of immaturity has no place at a city committee. He needs to either modify his behavior, or resign from the committee.

He also never specifically stated what problem he had with the dress code. If he thought a portion of it was wrong, that was the time to bring it up. The ALRC can require Brother’s to modify the dress code as a condition of their liquor license. But he didn’t do so. It appeared that he was trying to bait other members of the committee into asking the question on his mind. Get out with it, or shut up. There’s a lot of business that needs to be discussed at ALRC meetings and that time doesn’t need to be wasted by people dancing around an issue.

I’d like to make it clear that I don’t believe that all members of Capitol Neighborhoods Inc have ill intentions, but it’s obvious that enough well placed members do. CNI needs to clean house and remove the power hungry individuals trying to establish an unelected level of local government. And Alders that are cooperating with this subversion need to be opposed and defeated in the next election.