Why Adding Another Liquor License in an Economically Distressed Madison Neighborhood is a Bad Idea

Hi friends, 

In today’s blog post, I outline why I strongly oppose the approval of a new liquor license at 2702 E. Washington Ave and urge the Common Council to reject this proposal on today’s agenda. Despite my deep respect for the residents and Alders who dedicate their time to various committees, boards, and commissions, I believe the Alcohol License Review Committee (ALRC) has fallen short of its mission to “enhance public safety and quality of life.” This post will provide a detailed overview of the compelling reasons why granting this license would be a bad idea for this community.

Overview of points to consider on why adding another liquor license in an economically distressed neighborhood is a bad idea

References: 

1. Economic Distress of the Area

• Economically Disadvantaged Neighborhood: Block Group 2 of Census Tract 21, where 2702 E. Washington Ave is located, is characterized by a median household income of $41,588, significantly lower than the city median of $70,466​​​​.
• High Unemployment: The area has an unemployment rate of 8.4%, compared to the city’s rate of 2.7%​​.

2. High Alcohol Outlet Density

• Existing Liquor Outlets: There are already multiple Class A and Class B liquor licenses within 0.5 miles of the proposed location. This includes Refuel Pantry (0.3m) (3019 E Washington) Rocky’s Liquor East Washington (348 ft) Trixie’s Liquor Store (0.2m) among many others.
• Concentration Impact: Studies, including those published by the National Library of Medicine, show that higher alcohol outlet density is associated with increased alcohol consumption, violence, and other social problems​​.

3. Crime and Quality of Life Concerns 

• Regular Issues with Public Drunkenness: The nearby Madison Public Library – Hawthorne and the strip mall where the library is located reports regular issues with intoxicated individuals, contributing to safety concerns​​.
• Crime in the Strip Mall: The strip mall where the library is located already faces problems with crime and other quality of life issues. Adding another liquor outlet could exacerbate these issues​​​​.
• Police Resource Strain: Higher alcohol outlet density leads to more demands on police and building inspection resources, as highlighted in the 2019 Cap Times article​​​​.

4. Impact on Community Health and Safety

• Alcohol-Related Harm: Research indicates that neighborhoods with a high density of alcohol outlets see more alcohol misuse, violent crime, and motor vehicle accidents​​​​.
• Youth and Education: The area has a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students (67.8%), and an increase in alcohol outlets could negatively impact this vulnerable group by increasing exposure to alcohol-related issues​​.

5. Proximity to Sensitive Locations

• Schools and Libraries: Emerson Elementary School is within 0.5 miles, and the Madison Public Library – Hawthorne is only 0.1 miles away from the proposed liquor outlet​​.
• Community Risks: Proximity to educational institutions and community centers raises concerns about the exposure of children and families to alcohol-related activities​​.

6. Community Safety Considerations

• ALRC Guidelines: According to Attorney Zilavy during the most recent ALRC meeting, "the charge of the ALRC is to determine whether or not a license should be granted considering the health, safety, and welfare of the community. Whether or not it's good for a particular business person is not a relevant consideration"

• Precedent and Policy: Mentioned during the most recent ALRC meeting, it is more challenging to revoke a liquor license once granted. It is crucial to consider the existing saturation and its impacts before adding another outlet​​ -- however the ALRC did not consider this point. 

7. Expert and Committee Opinions

• MPD Concerns: The Madison Police Department has noted concerns about the saturation of liquor outlets in this area​​.
• Committee Members: Only 1 member of the committee emphasized that the role of the ALRC is to protect the community’s safety and wellness, not to promote free enterprise at the expense of public health​​. The rest of the body centered the business in how they decided to vote. 

Key timestamps + comments from the most recent ALRC meeting held on 6/26/24 to review

• Discussion for the item starts at 2:13:20
• MPD notes concerns about saturation: 2:27:57
• Atty mentions the committee can consider density: 2:46:32
• Committee member reminds the body that a business does not have a right to a liquor license and how hard it is to take one away once granted, notes discussions to ask CC to look into legislation: 2:46:53
• Alder Knox acknowleges the committee has the ability to discuss density, mentions the item has been to ALRC twice already, shares they have the tools to make the decision, however does not discuss safety and health nor saturation: 2:48.57
• Alder Latimer-Burris centers business, inaccurately frames all of what the neighbors have shared ( I have spoken to neighbors who not conflicting framing): 2:50:00
• Committee member notes the purpose of the body having nothing to do with free enterprise and to look out for the safety and wellness of the community, notes this is a site already with problems even without a license granted: 2:52:07
• Atty Zilavy notes: "the charge of the ALRC is to determine whether or not a license should be granted considering the health, safety, and welfare of the community. Whether or not it's good for a particular business person is not a relevant consideration":  2:53:07

Existing high density of alcohol outlets in this area and their proximity to schools + library

• Emerson Elementary School (0.5m)

• Madison Public Library – Hawthorne (0.1m)

• (on today's agenda) Refuel Pantry (0.0m) – This is the point of search
• Refuel Pantry (0.3m) (3019 E Washington)
• Rocky’s Liquor East Washington (348 ft)
• Trixie’s Liquor Store (0.2m)

• Touch of Ukraine (0.3m)
• Woody & Anne’s (0.5m)
• The Bur Oak (0.5m)
• Growlers to Go-Go (0.2m)
• The Malt House (0.2m)
• Goodman Community Center (149 Waubesa St – 0.5m)
• Crostini Sandwiches (0.2m)
• North Street Cabaret (0.5m)
• Tip Top Tavern (0.5m)
• Dexter’s Pub (0.3m)

Facts on the negative effects of a high number of alcohol outlets on disadvantaged neighborhoods from the National Library of Medicine

• Economically disadvantaged neighborhoods have more alcohol outlets than do high-income neighborhoods [1–3], even though people with lower incomes are less likely to drink and drink less often than their higher-income counterparts. This environmental injustice likely creates a “double-jeopardy” scenario, where disadvantaged neighborhoods also contain alcohol riskscapes that endanger residents. Alcohol outlet density (i.e., the number of stores in an area that sell alcohol and the ease of traveling to them) is associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption, misuse, and related harms [4–6]. The association between alcohol outlets and violent crime is particularly well supported [7–12]. READ MORE
• Greater exposure to alcohol outlets in a neighborhood appears to be related to greater alcohol use (Gruenewald, 2011) and related problems such as violent assaults (Gruenewald & Remer, 2006; Livingston, 2008; Mair et al., 2013; Toomey et al., 2012), motor vehicle collisions (McMillan et al., 2007; Ponicki et al., 2013), child abuse and neglect (Freisthler & Weiss, 2008; Freisthler et al., 2007), and intimate partner violence (Cunradi et al., 2012; Livingston, 2011). Alcohol outlets also tend to be concentrated in lower income areas (Gorman & Speer, 1997; Hay et al., 2009; Pearce et al., 2008; Romley et al., 2007), presumably exposing lower income populations to increased risks related to having these retail establishments in their neighborhoods. READ MORE

SUMMARY

In summary, I have shared the reasons why granting a new liquor license at 2702 E. Washington Ave would be a great disservice to the community. This economically distressed area is already struggling with high unemployment, low median household income, and a significant number of existing alcohol outlets. The concentration of liquor licenses is linked to numerous issues such as increased alcohol consumption, violence, and public safety concerns. Additionally, the area is burdened with crime and quality of life problems, further exacerbated by the high density of alcohol outlets.

The close proximity of the proposed liquor license location to sensitive areas like Emerson Elementary School and the Madison Public Library – Hawthorne raises serious concerns about the exposure of vulnerable populations, including children and economically disadvantaged residents, to alcohol-related risks. The Madison Police Department and other experts have voiced concerns about the saturation of liquor outlets, emphasizing the strain on police and city resources.

Despite the dedication of committee members, the Alcohol License Review Committee (ALRC) did not fully uphold its mission to enhance public safety and quality of life in this decision. It is crucial for the Common Council to recognize the potential negative impacts and prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of the community.