DONOVAN RELEASE CLAIMS LICENSING "DOUBLE STANDARD"

Sees Matter in Black and White:

Urban Club Lady Bug Gets 20 Day Suspension

South Side Jerseys Gets 45 Day Suspension

 "Can No Longer Stand by Silently and Watch"

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Zielinski Recused from License Vote after Telling Club Attorney,

"I'm turning against you, man"

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DCD Staffer Announces Resignation

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team 

Decrying what he calls a "mockery of our tavern licensing system here in the City of Milwaukee," Ald. Bob Donovan issued a statement today, Thursday, November 19th, 2009, saying he is "outraged at [Milwaukee's] tavern licensing 'double standard.'"

I'm specifically referring to the double-standard that I believe exists in the manner the current Licenses Committee handles taverns and clubs that have repeated problems ... requiring frequent responses from Milwaukee police officers.

The License Committee renewed the license of Lady Bug Club, 618 N. Water St., with a 20 day suspension. The action, which must still be approved by the full council, came despite a "lengthy police report" along with neighborhood and police recommendations the tavern license of the club not be renewed.
The club received a 45-day suspension last year. Donovan cited the committee's informal "policy of progressive discipline for taverns that can't seem to clean up their act.
"At the very least, the committee should have sent (another) message to Ladybug in the form of a 60- or 90-day suspension."

On the other hand, Donovan said, giving an example of what he feels to be the double standard,

the action came just hours after the committee voted in favor of imposing a 45-day suspension for Jerseys Sports Pub and Grill (and 4010 Lounge), 4024 S. Howell Ave., for what can best be described as minor violations. Yes, several neighbors testified about problems they've experienced with Jerseys, but in my mind they are not ones that jeopardize public safety or siphon off police squad cars every weekend. ... We must regain control of a licenses process that has, in my opinion, run amok."

TENSION AT THE FIVE-HOUR LADY BUG LICENSE HEARING 
AS ZIELINSKI STORMS OFF


Taking advantage of the amokedness of the system as seen by the south side alderman was Atty. David Halbrooks, who represented the Lady Bug Club in an epic hearing before the Licenses Committee on  Tuesday, November 17th, 2009.
In January, Halbrooks also successfully argued for Questions Entertainment, 3014 W. North Ave., which received a 25-day suspension despite police and neighborhood objections that it be closed down. Donovan also cited this case in his press release.

Halbrooks subpoenaed over a dozen witnesses, including the security staff of the downtown club, who appeared in full Ninja attire.  Dozens of club supporters also sat patiently through the five hour hearing which had already run 8-1/2 hours before Lady Bug's item came up on the agenda.
Halbrooks, a former assistant city attorney and municipal judge, called a number of witnesses to speak on behalf of the club, and then proceeded to call into question the very legitimacy of the hearing itself, asserting defects in the committee's procedures and policies.
Ald. Ashanti Hamilton said the committee had been following the usual State-issued procedures throughout the lengthy hearing with no problems, and City Attorney Bruce Schrimpf said nothing the committee was doing was contrary to state law.
Although Chairman James Bohl had clearly put in a long day, in part self-imposed due to his frequent lectures to just about anybody in sight as the meeting progressed, he was a veritable Buddha compared to committee member Ald. Tony Zielinski, who said he was getting "sick and tired" of Halbrooks and his "silly questions."
"I'm turning against you, man," Zielinski said to Halbrooks, who responded, "I'm going to ask Mr. Zielinski to recuse himself."
"Good," said Zielinski, an announced candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, as he walked away from the table, leaving the matter in the hands of his four colleagues.
Ald. Bob Bauman, in whose district the club is located, announced his opposition to the renewal of the license after watching the show very patiently.
Finally, Ald. Ashanti Hamilton, who has held at least one fundraiser at Lady Bug Club, suggested a 30-day suspension. His motion failed on a 2-2 vote, perhaps due to the recusal of Zielinski, who was the architect of the 45-day suspension of Jerseys that so troubled Ald. Donovan that he issued today's statement.
So with Bohl favoring a longer suspension, and Ald. Mileli Coggs favoring a shorter suspension, Hamilton asked for the 20-day suspension that passed 3-1 over Bohl's objection.

NOW WHAT?

The Hound Dog asked Ald. Donovan if he plans separate action on the Jersey and Lady Bug Club licenses when the full council meets on December 1st. He said he didn't know at this time, and suggested Ald. Bauman might bring the matter up. Well, he got it off his chest.
However, it is believed that following their experience at the Tuesday license hearing, the owners of Jerseys have decided to hire an attorney with experience in license matters to represent the club. An announcement is expected between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. today, and I'll either write it here if I can, or tell you at the Milwaukee Press Club, 137 E. Wells St., where I will be a guest bartender this evening following the City Holiday Tree lighting ceremony.
Or maybe at the Journal Sentinel Tweetup at Blatz Liquor around 6 p.m. Or just before that at the Swingin' Door where Milwaukee Courier Company is celebrating its 2,000th run.



FUNNY THING ABOUT JERSEYS

Sometimes there are grey areas in black and white issues. And blue ones, too!
Jerseys is a kind of a cop bar, so it probably was not a good strategic move for Zielinski to initiate the motion to give the club a permanent suspension of its outdoor license and a 45-day suspension, which he later amended to the mere 45-day suspension. After all, he wants the police union's endorsement for his Lieutenant Governor bid.
-- Michael Horne


ROWE RICHARDS TO DEPART DCD


Andrea Rowe Richards, communications manager for the Department of City Development and wife of Democratic Rep. Jon Richards said Wednesday, November 18th, 2009, that she would be leaving her job with the city to concentrate on being a mother. She and her husband are the recent parents of a sturdy, rosy-cheeked boy of about two years old. The lad made his entrance into political society at a fundraiser held at MOCT, where Rowe Richards gave the news of her resignation to the Hound Dog.
The child, for whom "da" is an actual word, and not mere baby talk, is the first for the couple. His mother said he is learning new things at an astonishing rate, which is no surprise for such an engaging little chap with such nice folks.
-- Michael Horne