"World of Beer" proposed for Social Security Building - public meeting Wednesday 4/17

[ron_newman]

I got this e-mail from Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz:

I wanted to update you that I have now had two meetings with the proponents of a place called "World of Beer" that wants to go into the Social Security Bldg space [240 Elm Street]. The lawyer for the new owner of the space, Mike Amato, is Rich DiGirolomo. I have told them that I am VERY concerned about this as a possible use since I don't want to see a drinking hole in Davis that allows you to bring in your own food and barely serves any food of their own. They have told me I have the wrong idea and it will be craft brews geared towards an "upscale" crowd. I am highly skeptical.

In response to my concerns, the proponents have now said they are going to partner with a restaurant to come into the space to share adjoining spaces. I'm not sure how that would work. They would like to have a community meeting ON SITE on Wed April 17th at 6:30pm. Can you please help me spread the word far and wide so we can get a large turnout of people who will ask key questions about what they are trying to do?

Comments

[gmg-1.livejournal.com]

So, dumb question maybe, but how come the Aldermen don't have official email addresses?

Personally, between this, the froyo thing, and the parking lot/hotel, I'm concerned about the anti free-market stance of city government and whether it is really acting in our best interest. There is very little business in Somerville to begin with, and we should be welcoming people who want to invest, not harassing them.

[davelew.livejournal.com]

Rebekah Gewirtz' gmail adress is on her blog: http://www.rebekahgewirtz.org/blog.php

[ron_newman]

All of the aldermen have e-mail addresses, which you can find on their individual pages linked from here.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Yes but the question was, why don't they have 'official' email addresses'. As in from the city. And I also do not understand that.

[ron_newman]

In what way is selling the parking lot to a hotel developer "anti free-market" ?

[gmg-1.livejournal.com]

As far as I can tell, that was all based on a survey the city specifically commissioned to look at the suitability of several sites for supporting a hotel. I didn't go back and try and look at meeting minutes to figure out why the city commissioned the survey in the first place, but it certainly wasn't asking the relevant question: "What is the best use for this piece of land?" From the outside, it looks like someone in government just decided that they wanted a hotel there, hence "anti free-market."

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

So, dumb question maybe, but how come the Aldermen don't have official email addresses?

Partly because governments are trailing-edge adopters, whereas the aldermen have an incentive to be reachable however their constituents demand. And I suppose if you're paranoid, you don't have to worry about the city management spying on your e-mail if you're using Gmail.