Licensing Commission defers Beer Works decision until November 18 meeting

[ron_newman]

Details on this Davis Action Group page.

ETA: Discussion is happening in keithn's subsequent post Beer Works and... Who speaks for the community? rather than here.

"The Somerville News Weekly" ? What exactly is this?

[ron_newman]

So, The Somerville News became The Somerville Times last month ... but now there's apparently a new competing "Somerville News Weekly" which supposedly debuted a print edition last week? (They also have this Facebook page)

Has anyone actually seen a copy of this? I haven't found one anywhere around Davis Square. It appears that the two former co-owners of The Somerville News had some sort of split, with one of them getting the assets, archive, and continuity of the former paper, but the other one keeping rights to the paper's old name.

The "News Weekly" folks also have some strange idea, or perhaps delusion, that they are operating a 70-newspaper chain of local weeklies.

If any of you understand what's going on here, please comment.

Beer Works and... Who speaks for the community?

[keithn.livejournal.com]

A small but vocal group of about 50 mostly older residents has declared themselves the voice of the community and is on the verge of killing the Davis Square Beer Works proposal. Right now, the licensing hearing for Beer Works has been pushed back to November 18 (Beer Works was granted a "continuance" at October 21's licensing board meeting).

What concerns me much more than the possibility of the Beer Works proposal being denied is the notion that these 50 or so residents have declared themselves the representatives of the community, and they have alderman Rebekah Gewirtz as their champion. Despite the fact that Alderman Gewirtz stated that the majority of e-mails she received were in support of the Beer Works proposal, she has come out as not only against Beer Works but seemingly against any new bars/restaurants in general (see the "Davis Action Group" notes). Based on past comments, it would seem that she is insisting on either retail or some kind of farmer's market for that space.

Who is the voice of the young professionals and students who live in the community? The majority of Davis Square residents are under 35 years old. Most people who I have talked to are in favor of the proposal, and even the ones who aren't fans of Beer Works would never argue that there are too many bars and restaurants in Davis Square like our alderman has argued. Bars and restaurants are why many of us are here. (Yes - I know we're ignored because we aren't noisy and don't vote - which is what I want to change).

If you want your voice heard - whatever your opinion - please e-mail the Somerville Licensing Commission via their administrative assistant Jenneen Pagliaro - jpagliaro@somervillema.gov - as soon as possible. You can also CC/separately e-mail Alderman Gewirtz at rebekah.gewirtz@gmail.com, but she seems to have already made up her mind and since she is running for re-election unopposed there isn't much that can be done to sway her. You should also CC or separately e-mail alderman at large Jack Connolly at aldermanconnolly@gmail.com.

Of course, showing up at the Licensing Commission meeting on November 18 would also be a big help. But if Beer Works is convinced the license won't be approved, they may just withdraw before then, which is why e-mailing now is important.

Longfellow bridge closed, Red Line busing this weekend and next (and November 23-24)

[ron_newman]

The Longfellow Bridge will be closed to all private wheeled traffic in both directions, and bus shuttles will replace the Red Line between Kendall and Park Street, this weekend and next (and also November 23-24).

The north sidewalk will still be open. Bicyclists must walk their bikes on the sidewalk rather than riding in the road, because the road will be carrying MBTA shuttle buses in both directions, obliterating the usual bike lanes.

More info here.