"ALDERMANIC PRIVILEGE" TAKES HIT

WITKOWIAK OPPOSES LIQUOR STORE IN ZIELINSKI DISTRICT

AFTER THE DEATH THREAT, CELEBRATE AT APPLEBEE'S

TWO NEW TAVERNS FOR DOWNTOWN

FEINGOLD HOLDS CIVIL LISTENING SESSION IN MILWAUKEE

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team 

"ALDERMANIC PRIVILEGE" GETS SLAPPED 


The myth of "Aldermanic Privilege," in which Common Council members allegedly have the power to approve or deny Alcohol Beverage license applications within their districts took a slap today, Wednesday, January 20th, 2010, when the council voted to deny a Class "A" Liquor and Malt application for "Best Liquor," 551 W. Becher St. in Ald. Tony Zielinski's 14th District.
The Licenses Committee approved the liquor store application on a 3-1 vote on Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 with Chairman Jim Bohl the sole objector, and Ald. Coggs excused.
At the hearing, 12th District Ald. James Witkowiak spoke against the license, formerly located in his district, and now across the street in Zielinski's district on the basis of concentration of outlets in the area. However, Ald. Zielinski, who either very much supports or very much opposes license applications in his district based on a formula that appears to be a sliding scale, moved for approval of the license. This despite objections from neighborhood groups who are often treated as oracles of divine wisdom by Zielinski in his other crusades.
There things remained until the Common Council meeting of this morning, Wednesday, January 20th, 2010, when Witkowiak took the unusual move of asking the council to reject the license, despite committee recommendation.
Witkowiak said the city's concentration of outlets ordinance, often observed in the breach, and subject to creative cartography, would be worthless if not enforced. Zielinski got a bit testy (you should be able to watch the proceedings here) and said he knew his district plenty well from his service on the County Board, and the license should be approved.
In the end, the council rejected the guidance of the committee, and voted 11-4 against its recommendations, with Alds. Ashanti Hamiliton, Nik Kovac, Robert Puente and Zielinski forming an unlikely and losing alliance.


AFTER A DEATH THREAT, WHY NOT CHOOSE APPLEBEE'S 


Former Milwaukee Assistant District Attorney Bob Donohoo [Marquette '73] said his wife Diane Dohonoo [Marquette '92] had quite a rough time at work last week, where she serves as an A.D.A. in Walworth County. She was the subject of a death threat from John K. Gorman, 51, of East Troy, who wanted to .  rub her out along with two others.
Gorman is now charged in Waukesha County with three charges of attempted first degree homicide, in addition to other pending charges in Walworth County. Bail exceeds $210,000 on all charges.
Now that the pressure is off, how do the Donohoos plan to celebrate?
"I'm taking my wife to Applebee's," Donohoo said.
Beg pardon?
"We like Applebee's. We go there for special occasions," he responded.
I know some folks who might fear a justified death threat, from the source itself, if they suggested taking their spouse to Applebee's for a celebration.

CHANGES


Port of Call wants to open as a tavern at 106 W. Wells St., a spot in the Cawker building occupied by Byron's Beer Garden and Bistro. That place closed a couple of weeks ago, claiming a remodeling was imminent. But the place was left in quite a mess. Over at the parking structure building at 770 N. Jefferson St., an application for a new Class "B" Tavern and Cabaret Night Club license was made for Shamrock. Will it be a real Irish bar or a "Sham?" ...
The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee will consider issuing $30 million in revenue bonds for the Park East Square development, proposed for a 2-acre block vacated by the demolition of the Park East Freeway stub. The property, with a street address of 406 E. Odgen Ave. will be in the block bounded by E. Lyon Street to the north (incorrectly spelled "Lyons" in the RACM document), N. Jefferson St. and N. Milwaukee St.  RACM will hear the matter tomorrow, Thursday, January 21st, 2010. ...

FEINGOLD, WITH FILL OF TEA BAGGERS, LISTENS TO NORMAL CITIZENS IN MILWAUKEE

Sen. Russ Feingold has been getting teabagged at his recent listening sessions, drawing television coverage during an appearance in Pewaukee in Waukesha County. His classic response: "I hold listening sessions in every county every year regardless of the politics."
His listening session in Milwaukee County, yesterday, Tuesday, January 19th, 2010, was the 1240th since he took office in 1993. At the time of his election, Feingold was regularly criticized in the media for his insistence on the annual tour of Wisconsin's 72 counties. As I recall, the Milwaukee Journal thought it was just plain dumb. Feingold persevered, however, and he says the listening sessions are his best source of information from his constituents.
Feingold had an "easy time" at the Milwaukee session, according to Fox6 News coverage of the event. This makes sense since Milwaukee voters, unlike those in Pewaukee, have not been radicalized by the phony tea party movement.