HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-12-16 Public Comment - L. Haydon - Bozeman TaproomFrom:Laurren H
To:Agenda
Subject:Letter Regarding Bozeman Taproom
Date:Monday, December 12, 2016 1:59:21 PM
Laurren Haydon
411 N. Broadway Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715
406-223-1863
Lhaydon212@gmail.com
December 12, 2016
Dear City Commissioners,
I am writing you in regards to the conditional permit to add a full liquor license to the
Bozeman Taproom business located on the corner of Rouse and Mendenhall. I urge you todecline to award the Taproom a full liquor license for the following reasons:
1. The close proximity to Hawthorne Elementary has a direct effect on the students duringtheir school day through the Taproom’s open exposure of patron’s drinking habits (whether
responsible or not, it is difficult to tell when viewing people drinking during the school day).
2. Some students may have positive associations with alcohol, but I know that some students
have very negative associations with alcohol. Their school day may be the only time in theirlives where they can get away from seeing alcohol consumed. As a community, why would
we knowingly place students within such a close proximity of alcohol when such lengths aretaken to keep students away from drugs and alcohol?
3. Knowing that alcoholism can be genetically passed down from parents to their children,we have to acknowledge that some of the students at Hawthorne Elementary are more
susceptible to being alcoholics. The day-to-day viewing of drinking from those second-floorclassrooms (where the older kids are) will absolutely impact these children.
4. Liquor changes the atmosphere of a bar. Sipping a beer while watching a football game isquite different than a group of people taking shots. That alone should convince the
Commission to reject a full liquor license to an establishment so close to a school.
I realize that, as is, Bozeman Taproom will continue to serve beer and wine at 11am on a
school day. Already, they are effecting the students at Hawthorne. The Taproom has alreadybeen granted a conditional permit to have the business so close to a school in the first place. I
don’t think that that was a wise decision on the part of the Commission.
I have been very disappointed in the lack of foresight and altruistic intent in this communitylately. Everyone is more concerned with their own wants, not taking into consideration how
their actions impact their neighbors and their community.
The owners of Bozeman Taproom have not thought about the families wrecked by alcoholism,even in the Northeast Neighborhood. They have not considered the effects they have already
had on the children in our community.
I hope the Commission will take on the responsibility of making the right decision, even if it isnot a popular decision. You have the responsibility to make this decision for us, since the
owners of Bozeman Taproom have chosen not to consider their neighbors.
Thank you for your time.
Laurren Haydon