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.

Comments

[pch1.livejournal.com]

I have no problem with Beer Works coming into Davis but I must agree with those people who are against appropriating one of the city's licenses for it. The argument that Beer Works would help diffuse the crowds at other popular Davis restaurants is not correct in my opinion. I think history has shown that in adding more large capacity restaurants we have even more people coming into the square. Redbones didn't get less busy when The Burren opened. Foundry didn't get less busy when Saloon opened. Everything just got busier. This is not a bad thing, but to say that opening a Beer Works is going to help alleviate the crowds is not realistic. The goal for opening up these licenses to spur growth is so maybe Ball Sq. or Winter Hill, or Teele, or Beacon St. can be the site for the next Highland Kitchen type gem. To say that we need to be able to compete with neighboring Cambridge is also untrue. There is no area of northern Cambridge outside of Harvard Square that competes with Davis. And even if they have unlimited licensing ability the neighborhood commissions are extremely strict. I can't think of a full liquor license that has been granted north of Porter Square in at least 15 years. Why did Marinos sit vacant for so long and finally become a daycare center. Lastly the cost of a privately held license in Somerville these days is closer to 200 thousand and has practically doubled in the last 3 years. I'm sure whoever bought the Rosebud probably spent close to that on the their license alone, which would seem unfair if the city were handing them out to this neighborhood still.

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

Porter Square has a lot to offer.