I know this seems like a pretty minor issue, that’s hardly newsworthy, but to many Milwaukee residents this new policy reduces a great East Town event.  In fact there’s been talk on various Milwaukee email lists of boycotting Jazz in the Park until the rules regarding carry-ins are changed and I’ve joked about holding alternatives events, but the truth is the party will go on, just not in quite the same manner.  Really, who hasn’t snuck a flask into a football game or hidden a beer in their jacket, so surly people will find a way to continue to bring their own.  A local liquor store is even selling a product called Pocket Shots with Jazz in the Park specifically in mind, but this misses the point because this event isn’t a football game.

The point isn’t that people can drink or not, they still can.  It is about the random gatherings that occur over a bottle of wine or twelve pack of Miller, and the characters that make it unique and interesting.  I think of Downtown Diamond Dave and his “Brooklyn cooler,” a Walgreen’s bag, twelve pack of beer, and some ice.  Or the monster martini glass guy, who’d wander the square sipping on his martini.  I think of the experiences had and relationships built without out a plan, without effort, simply by reaching in the cooler and saying “want a beer?”  Yes, there will still be music, and there will of course still be people sitting out, but until State Rep. Leon D. Young’s (D-Milwaukee) legislation makes it to Governor Doyle’s desk, it’s likely that many will head straight for Taylor’s skipping the park all together, and that’s a shame.

2. Bike racks on buses, they’re coming.

3. The Milwaukee RiverWalk, take a stroll along the RiverWalk where the built environment meets the natural environment.  It’s not just for walking though, eat to your hearts content at Rock Bottom Brewery, the Milwaukee Ale House, or the Water Buffalo (by no means a complete list of RiverWalk eateries).   Lakefront Brewery has a nice RiverWalk segment and they serve beer, check that out.

4. RiverSplash gets the festival season going early, starting on June 5th.  Hopefully there will be a few more street closings this year to calm the crowds.  Seriously, we close way too few streets downtown for events.  If pedestrian overcrowding was a concern, just make the area bigger.

5. The Bastille Days run.  An athletic urbanist’s dream, what other event lets you run through the streets of downtown Milwaukee with only the fear of getting hit by a stroller?  Milwaukee needs more runs in the city.  The lakefront is great, but nothing compares to running through the city streets with 10,000 other people.  North Avenue?  Brady Street?  Westown?  All would be fun.

What did I miss?

Then the Winter of 2008 arrived, and as President Obama indicated “change has come to America”.  More specifically change has come to Milwaukee’s summer time events.  Unfortunately not to the betterment of Milwaukee.

First, we heard that after 18 years of allowing carry-in liquor, Jazz in the Park is throwing out the tradition that made the event special.  Next, we heard that Gallery Night is being harassed by the State of Wisconsin over a couple of free glasses of wine.  And now we hear of neighbors whining about music on Bradford Beach.

Understand that I’m not lamenting the loss of cheap liquor or loud music for their sake, but more so regarding what these changes mean.  Furthermore, I know there has been an outrage in the mainstream media over drunk driving in Wisconsin, deservedly so, but going after great events such as Jazz in the Park or Gallery Night isn’t the solution.

The ability to carry-in your own choice of beverage allows groups of friends from all income levels and races to gather and celebrate together.  It facilitates spontaneous gatherings, random meetings, and yes, community building.  By changing this rule East Town has turned Jazz in the Park from a community event into a street festival, and although street festivals are still enjoyable something is lost.

The wine offered at galleries during Gallery Night serves a purpose other than inebriation.  It takes the fairly individual act of browsing art and opens it up to groups of friends and strangers.  Furthermore, it attracts first time art fans which opens a new world of interest to those who may not ever of chosen to explore art.

For years, some would say decades, Bradford Beach was in decline.  Until last year.  Last year the Hi-Hat Group and X-Ray Marketing took over operations of the Bradford Beach House and began to schedule a variety of events which included live music.  Anyone who made it down the beach last year knew times had changed for the better.  People were playing volleyball, sun tanning, swimming, and enjoying the music.  A great Milwaukee amenity was re-born and enjoyed by thousands of Milwaukeeans throughout last summer.  As with Jazz in the Park and Gallery Night, this great amenity, this great event, this part of Milwaukee’s rebirth is already coming under fire.  Recently a small group of East Side residents complained to the County Board, apparently because they didn’t approve of the choice of music, and now the fun, the rebirth of Bradford Beach is in question.

This “war on fun” needs to be looked at in a larger view, beyond the individual events.  Beyond the individual concerns and complaints.  I hope that we as a city begin to realize that events big and small add to the vibrancy of our great city.  I hope that soon enough we realize the value these events bring to our city, because if we choose rigid and muted, over vibrant and lively, we move a step closer to Generica, U.S.A.

Today we received just about all we needed to confirm our suspicions, a couple of great quotes from the Milwaukee Chief of Police Edward Flynn courtesy of the Journal Sentinel article Jazz in the Park fans have a whine and cheese party.

“It’s the first time I’ve been thrown under a bus by a wine-drinking Brie-eater,” he said.

“Listen, I can’t tell you the Police Department is not going to enforce appropriate laws. I will tell you that when it comes to an event like this, we’re going to respond to conduct. We’re not doing anything pro-active.”

Translation: The police don’t care if you uncork your own bottle of wine or pop a few carry-in beers at Jazz in the Park, as long as you’re peaceful and behave.

Flynn communicated this to Kate Borders, East Town’s executive director, when he saw her at the fest last summer. “Against the backdrop of 19 years of no major incidents there, I certainly assured her that we weren’t suddenly going to become revenuers,” Flynn said.

It’s perfectly reasonable for the East Town Association to want this event to break-in, or even generate a profit to support area businesses, no one should complain about that.  What is a shame is how this whole thing has been handled.  The East Town Association has done nothing to help itself here, failing to control and soften the reaction at every step of the way.  The statements from Chief Flynn, that contradict earlier reports from the East Town Association, are just another step in this saga that probably isn’t over.

Let’s at least give it a catch title.  Jazzgate?

At some point someone might want to ask why Westown’s River Rhythms hasn’t announced a similar policy yet.

The event is free to attend and has an interesting revenue model.  As I have been led to believe by a board member, Bastille Days the French heritage festival held annually in July actually generates a substantial amount of the revenue that allows Jazz in the Park to operate.  Furthermore, and I last discussed this issue in 2006, there was looming concerns that the rainy day fund accumulated by the East Town Association was running low.  I don’t know whether any of that is still true at this point, but assume it is for the sake of debate.

How do you raise revenues?  One option may be standing by and accepting the no carry-ins ruling that has been placed upon you by the Milwaukee Police Department and selling more alcohol on the premises to a crowd that is reduced in size.

Another option for East Town may be to charge admission  to the event.  Could East Town also sell reserved spaces for the event (my group puts our blanket out at noon)?

What about a mix of value-added services included valet parking, a reserved space on the grass, and a food and drink package?

How about not allowing carry-ins, but allowing all businesses with liquor licenses within distance X (say 2 miles) to sell alcohol on the premises (helping Metro Market and upstart Blatz Liquor significantly, along with Taylors and company)?

Is there a way to generate more parking revenue?  MSOE currently sells parking to benefit their athletics program.

What would you do?  We would love if it you would post a comment with your idea(s).  Also feel free to email your alderman to share your idea or just to lend your support for Jazz in the Park as it has been in years past.