Near West Side Partners Testifies in Support of SB528
Legislation will save taxpayer resources, reduce crime and promote economic development
Milwaukee – At a public hearing today before the Wisconsin Senate’s Committee on Elections and Local Government, Near West Side Partners, along with representatives of its anchor institutions, offered its support for SB528, legislation that will help save taxpayer resources, reduce crime and promote economic development in Milwaukee.
“On behalf of Near West Side Partners, we thank Senator Alberta Darling, and Representative Evan Goyke and the other co-sponsors for introducing this important legislation,” said Keith Stanley, Executive Director of Near West Side Partners, Inc. “We greatly appreciated the opportunity to testify before the Committee on Elections and Local Government and share our support for this legislation, which will meet a critical need in Milwaukee’s Near West Side and many other neighborhoods around the City.”
One of the biggest impediments to economic development in the Near West Side has been several chronic nuisance properties that have served as magnets for criminal activity. One of the biggest offenders has been tobacco retail shops that hide behind a loophole in the law to remain in business, despite creating significant negative impacts on their neighborhood, promoting criminal activity and consuming tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of taxpayer resources.
“Under current law, poorly managed retail businesses have been able to hide behind their tobacco license to keep the business afloat – despite becoming a drain on police resources and contributing to crime and disorder in the community,” said Stanley. “SB528 will close this loophole, saving police resources, improving safety and promoting economic development in our neighborhoods.”
Modeled after the law governing alcohol licenses, SB528 would provide local control for the City of Milwaukee to suspend, revoke or refuse to renew the license of a tobacco products retailer if the business is knowingly permitting criminal behavior, facilitating drug sales and or permitting or promoting other specified public nuisances on its property. The proposed legislation does not limit the number of tobacco licenses.
“We believe SB528 is sensible, pro-business legislation that levels the playing field for responsible operators,” said Stanley.
Stanley was joined by representatives from each of the five anchor institutions in the Near West Side – Aurora Health Care, Harley-Davidson, Marquette University, Miller Coors and Potawatomi Business Development Corporation – who all voiced their support for the legislation.
ABOUT NEAR WEST SIDE PARTNERS, INC.
Near West Side Partners, Inc. is a non-profit organization with a mission to revitalize and sustain the Near West Side as a thriving business and residential corridor, through collaborative efforts to promote commercial corridor development, improved housing, unified neighborhood identity and branding, and greater safety for residents and businesses. Near West Side Partners, Inc. is an organization of businesses and civic leaders from throughout the Near West Side, including the organization’s five anchor institutions – Aurora Health Care, Harley-Davidson, Marquette University, MillerCoors and Potawatomi Business Development Corp.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Near West Side Partners, Inc.
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Details: https://legiscan.com/WI/text/SB528/id/1289957
I have to ask though why the 12 month ban is based only on the current license holder and not on the address or business entity. You know full well that whoever gets in trouble under this will call their six brothers and twelve cousins to just get a new license and the store will stay put.
Finally, in a moment of snark, I wonder what truly motivated the ilk of Darling, Kapenga, and Jacque to support a bill with a seemingly positive impact on local control?