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Home My WebLink AboutAlcohol Public Comment from Lisa and Allan Kirk, 8-25-14 In Bozeman, Less is More Lisa and Allan Kirk PO Box 1685 Bozeman, MT 59771 Ikirk@montana.com (406)581-8261 August 21,2014 City Clerk's Office Suite 201, City Hall 121 North Rouse Avenue Bozeman, MT 59715 jkrauss@bozeman.net Dear Mayor Krauss, We are writing to ask your assistance in addressing the over-consumption of alcohol, largely by young adults and minors, in our downtown. The following is a letter to the editor that Bozeman Chronicle would not print because we are not an "experts in substance control." We are, unfortunately, merely homeowners and long time residents who have experienced home invasion, vandalism by individuals pooping in our car(in our driveway),4 totaled vehicles, and countless drunks fighting, crying, and vomiting on our lawn. We lie awake many nights listening to police sirens and foul language. No,we are not therapists,we are merely sleep-deprived professionals and residents with long experience in the downtown "scene,"who are watching the value of the community we love go downhill. We ask you,as a thought leader in Bozeman,to participate with us in addressing this problem. Bozeman is recognized as one of the best places to live in America,yet Musical differences:Music on Main... growing pains(Chronicle 811012014)described an out-of-control culture of excessive drinking downtown that we fail to recognize as hazardous and unacceptable. Yet, in the very same issue,the Chronicle's editor called for increasing state profits through further sales of liquor licenses. In response to public outcry about serial DUI offenders,the Chronicle (Opinion, 1212212013)suggested a "Cultural shift [is] needed to end DUI because our well-recognized culture of tolerance, if not promotion of alcohol use, is not likely to change any time soon,"thus missing an opportunity to take a stand on Bozeman's need to do exactly that. Clearly, as a community,we are failing in our efforts to address this threat to teens, MSU students, residents, downtown businesses, motorists,tourism—and property values. Make no mistake,this is not merely about DUI and other serious, alcohol-related problems resulting solely from Music on Main. This is about those downtown bars that profit daily by selling cheap drinks 1 at the expense of the safety and integrity of our"Best Place to Live." This is about the rapid expansion of liquor licenses and permitting of multiple new distilleries and brewery tasting rooms, in spite of the lack of service control needed to ensure that downtown remains clean and safe. Yes, each room only allows three tastes —but 3x3 still adds up to 9! Did you know that 11 businesses now sell alcohol in a single block of downtown Bozeman? And that, according to the Deaconess Health News, "Bozeman has exceeded our trauma hospital peer group averages in alcohol—related injuries for three years running" (S. Miller,Jon 2014). Check out the daily police reports or ask the nurses treating young, intoxicated (often "ruffied")victims of a night in downtown Bozeman! The Chronicle has in recent months run many articles and letters describing public drunkenness and incivility to visitors in our community (Changes needed to make Music on Main good again, 81712014); vomit-covered sidewalks preventing dog walks (Downtown sidewalks need more attention"l? 31612014); residents struggling with home invasions (Bozeman man accidentally shoots own hand while trying to ward off intruder,31712014); and years of excessive noise and assaults (An open letter to the patrons of downtown bars from Mama Lisa, 911912013). Widespread building and vehicle damage are commonplace. Those of us who live downtown are told to expect trouble and to be sure we lock our doors. But this culture of excessive consumption spills over to the ski hills and surprisingly,even to the extreme sporting community, and reaches into our teen population. Closing days at both Bridger and Big Sky this year were populated with intoxicated skiers,some partially clothed! Drunk ice/rock climbing has become a truly"extreme" sport! Our valuable image as a family-safe and outdoor-centered community for tourism,a major economic driver, is placed at risk by this excess. Our city was listed in 2013 as the 9th drunkest community in the US based on self-reported binge drinking by the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov/stltpublichealth/psr/alcohol/index.html ), arguably an improvement over our 2011 ranking as the 5th drunkest city(Ricker,Chronicle,3/19/2011). Nevertheless, Bozeman continues to stumble along her path to ever higher levels of intoxication. In doing so,we contribute to an annual national cost of binge drinking estimated in excess of$223 billion in 2006, about$1.90 per drink served or $750 per capita (see CDC 24/7: Saving Lives, Protecting People,www.cdc.gov). Paradoxically,we were listed as the 22"d most livable American town in the same year,though as downtown residents we can tell you that life isn't all that livable at times. Law enforcement and EMS are downtown 24/7,spending our tax dollars on policing over-service, lewdness, and under-aged drinking, issuing DUI's and rescuing Bozeman from chaos. Bozeman's police chief reports they have succeeded during the past 5 years in reducing life-threatening injuries related to alcohol (http://www.mti)ioneer.com/BarFight.htm), but that much of their resources are inevitably focused on downtown alcohol-related problems. Sadly,one officer even asked if this is how Bozeman wants it to be? And so we ask, as homeowners, parents, and businessmen who witness property damage and assaults, worry about our children and spend sleepless nights listening to the police sorting out the screaming and puking downtown "scene", is this really what you want for your town? Must we wait until a fatality 2 —borne of a drunk student aspirating alone in an alley,walking in front of a car, or being shot as an intruder- sobers us up? This problem is not unique to Bozeman, and there is hope to improve this situation without closing bars or harming the downtown economy. Instead of accepting this situation as the status quo,we can join the ranks of US college towns (ie., Boulder CO; Newark DE;Talahassee, FL;Atlanta, GA; Iowa City, IA; Baton Rouge LA; Bethlehem PA; Lincoln NB; Burlington VT, as described by health professionals working on alcohol abuse, http://www.alcoholpolicymd.com/programs/AMOD Background info.htm )who are succeeding in proactively addressing the problem and by doing so, improve our economy and quality of life. Those who drink downtown certainly share responsibility with those serving the alcohol. With leadership, Bozeman patrons and businesses can together choose to create a culture of"Less is More" by 1)serving and 2)purchasing fewer drinks,3)restricting permits,4)changing service laws, and 5)taxing sales to mitigate impacts (see CDC's www.thecommunityguide.org/alcohol). Done properly,this can improve the value of all downtown businesses,while actively mentoring safe alcohol consumption for our youth. Money saved on law enforcement and gained through taxation could be used to support alcohol education and facilitate cultural resource development. To this end,we propose to begin a community-wide conversation, involving citizens of all ages,about changing our alcohol culture. Downtown bars may pay more taxes than any individual voter, but together, Bozeman citizens pay more taxes and cast more votes than those with liquor licenses combined. This is our home—and we can't expect the police to protect it without our help. At the start of this school year, as thousands of students return to Bozeman,we ask you to assist in launching a community-wide discussion that results in measurable solutions. We are working with many concerned citizens toward establishing a series of forums that will focus on positive, healthy, and economically productive solutions which serve everyone's best interest. Please respond to this letter with your interest,so that we can address needed change in Bozeman's alcohol culture with you. Sincerely, Lisa Bithell Kirk 3 XC: Mayor Jeff Krauss Dr. Waded Cruzado The Hon, Mike Salvagni City Clerk's Office Office of the President Gallatin County District Court Bozeman, MT MSU Marty Lambert, Esq. Deputy Mayor Carson Taylor Mr. Rick Winking County Attorney's Office City Clerk's Office Insight Office Bozeman, MT Bozeman, MT MSU NBC Montana Commissioner Chris Mehl Ms.Jennifer Haubenreiser KTVM-TV City Clerk's Office Student Health Services Bozeman, MT Bozeman, MT MSU Ms. Ellie Staley Commissioner Cynthia Mr. Kevin Pitzer, CEO Downtown Bozeman Andrus Bozeman Deaconess Partnership City Clerk's Office Bozeman, MT Bozeman, MT Mr.Jeff Linkenbach Mr. Sam Miller, RN Montana Social Norms Commissioner I-Ho Pomeroy Bozeman Deaconess Project City Clerk's Office Bozeman, MT Bozeman, MT Bozeman, MT Dr. Robert Watson, Ms. Heide Arneson Ms. Kathy Trucano Superintendent Board of Trustees Gallatin Valley Interfaith Bozeman Public Schools Bozeman Public Schools Association Holy Rosary Church Dr. Kevin Conwell, Principal Bozeman, MT BHS, Bozeman Public Schools Dr. Chris Kearns Dr. Marilyn King, Deputy Office of Student Success Superintendent of MSU Instruction Bozeman Public Schools Dr. Robert Marley Office of Student Success Chief of Police Ron Price MSU Law and Justice Center Bozeman, MT Mr.Jim Mitchell Student Health Services Fire Chief Jason Shrauger MSU Bozeman Fire Department Bozeman, MT Ms.Alanna Sherstad Student Health Services, Greg Sullivan, Esq. Voice Center City Attorney's Office MSU Bozeman, MT 4