Block Captains Take Tavern Issues to the Common Council
Feb 18th, 2010
The Historic Southwest neighborhood is home to many small neighborhood taverns. Most are quiet establishments catering to the local community and offering a meeting place for conversation and laughter. The corner tavern is a Milwaukee institution and there are several ‘corner taps’ within a block or two of the bar “Primos’ Place.”
Located on the corner of South 17th and West Grant Streets, the business could easily be mistaken for an abandoned building. Broken windows have been boarded up or held together with tape for months, and litter or broken glass is scattered outside. The bar has also had a documented history of unsavory problems throughout its years of operation; the site of fights, armed robberies, shootings, gang activity, and even drug dealing inside the tavern’s bathroom according to police records. During four of the past five years, Primos’ liquor license was renewed with disciplinary action of warning letters and temporary suspensions imposed by the City’s aldermen. Police officers have appeared at past license renewal hearings to speak to offenses, but the neighbors in the surrounding blocks did not have a voice in the matter until now.
Since beginning work in the area, Safe & Sound Community Partner Annie Weidert has fielded numerous and regular concerns from neighbors that they fear the bar and its patrons, are afraid to walk by at night, and that the late night peace and quiet is frequently disrupted by fights, screeching tires, breaking glass and vandalism after bar time. Some neighbors report receiving notices of past license renewal hearings with interest, but have stayed away for fear of retaliation for speaking up.
This past summer, Annie worked with neighbors and MPD District 2 Community Liaison Officers to initiate a new block watch on the block of S 17th St that is home to Primos. This year, when the bar’s Class “B” Tavern license came up for renewal, Annie worked with block captain Lenora Hernandez and recently created Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Association president and long time neighbor Linda Zinke. Together they communicated with nearby residents to help them understand their role and importance in the liquor licensing process. Working with local Alderman Terry Witkowski’s office, they canvassed the neighborhood with information about the hearing, listened to residents’ concerns and experiences, and encouraged them to report future incidents to the police.
At the License Committee hearing on a cold Wednesday morning, both Linda and Lenora appeared at City Hall to testify. They laid out the problems they have experienced and their desire for the bar to serve as a better partner in the neighborhood. The result was a strong message to bar owner Enrique Terrones from the members of the License Committee. “The buck stops here,” said Alderman Bohl, who urged Mr. Terrones to take greater responsibility for the impact his bar has on his neighbors. Alderman Hamilton affirmed to Mr. Terrones that, “Your behavior really does have to change.” Legislative Aide to Alderman Witkowski Catherine Cooper spoke in support and praise of the neighbors and the work they are doing to improve their neighborhood. The result was that the committee voted twice, voting down renewal of the license with a mere warning letter, instead recommending renewal with a 10-day suspension based on the neighborhood testimony, with the added contingency that Mr. Terrones, owner of the bar’s building, fix the broken windows before the Common Council meeting on March 2nd or the application will be returned to the committee. Mr. Terrones agreed.
Safe & Sound is working with the Reality Check coalition, which targets reducing underage access to alcohol, to train residents, business owners and other stakeholders on how complaints about problematic establishments can be made that then lead to change. Too often residents are frustrated and don’t always know the best means to have their concerns heard and taken seriously. The Historic Southwest is one of the focus neighborhoods of the coalition.
Following the hearing, Linda, Lenora, and Annie met up with Mr. Terrones and his lawyer, exchanged contact information, and expressed eagerness to work together in efforts to clean up and improve the neighborhood. Terrones agreed to stay in touch and even to attend the next neighborhood association meeting—and hopefully a new and more fruitful relationship with the neighborhood may prove to grow in the weeks, months and years ahead.
