HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-16-16, Public Comment, K. Jacobs,Tap Room
My name is Kristi Jacobs and I teach 3rd Grade at Hawthorne Elementary. I have a
Masters in Education and should finish my administrative credential this summer. I
have more than ___ years experience teaching and have taught at Hawthorne since
2010. Hawthorne has a wonderful collection of teachers who are dedicated to their
craft and who, more importantly, are committed to the education and development
of the children of our community.
I believe that I possess a rather unique perspective on the question of the Taproom’s
application for a full liquor license because my classroom has an unobstructed view
of the Taproom. In the spring and fall, when the Taproom’s deck is open and/or
when it opens the garage doors on the east side of the building, my students get to
watch folks sit outside drinking beer beginning at 11 am. Since the Taproom has
opened, my students make observations about the patrons of the Taproom many
times during each week.
It is also actually quite common for patrons of the Taproom to wave at me or my
students during the day. One can readily imagine the thought process of a couple of
buddies on their third beer of the afternoon talking about the fact that they are
sitting outside on a beautiful day while my eight and nine-year old students are
trying to work. I am sure that it seems like a brilliant (and hilarious) idea to them at
the time to distract my students, which they then do. But all that does is make it
more difficult for me to do my job and even more difficult for my students to remain
on task. And please imagine how much more fun that is on a Friday afternoon, when
my third graders are already beginning to think about the weekend.
I understand that I have to live with this situation and try to make the best of it. As I
also understand it, the Taproom is currently more of a family-friendly environment,
with its draw being the access to new and different craft beers. I believe that it is
not uncommon to see parents with their children at the Taproom. That will change
if the Taproom is granted a full liquor license as it will become much more of a bar-
based environment where patrons will be able to engage in what can more fairly be
described as power drinking or as the patrons line up shots. Such a result will
undoubtedly (and likely exponentially) increase the problems with which I am
already dealing. I hesitate to imagine the conduct with which I would have to deal in
the future. I have little doubt that the distractions would extend beyond merely
waving as folks become more alcoholically emboldened.
I would like to offer a final observation for you. I have taught in four states (Kansas,
Virginia, California and Montana) and have seen hundreds of elementary schools
throughout the entire nation. I cannot recall a single elementary school where a bar,
much less an open-air bar, has a direct view into the school.
I am not against the Taproom and I believe that the issues that exist in its current
configuration can be resolved. But I cannot see how those issues could be resolved
if the Taproom is granted a full liquor license, something that would radically
change the manner in which it does business. While I would prefer not to have to
write this letter, I do not see any way in which granting a full liquor license to the
Taproom will improve the educational opportunities for my students or make my
already difficult job any easier. I am not afraid of hard work, but granting a full
liquor license to the Taproom will set me and many of my students up for failure in
an era of already dwindling resources.
Thank you for your consideration of these issues and I hope that my perspective
assists you in addressing this issue. Please let me know if you have any questions,
Sincerely,
Kristi Jacobs