Where's Aldo? - We need you or we may lose it for good!

We need your help to keep our downtown safe and healthy!

Credit: Flickr - Scutter

Madison's downtown used to be a place with unique character that families could enjoy as well as those heading out for a night to the local establishments. A few years ago, the tables began tipping and we were losing our downtown as it became more and more saturated with alcohol. In 2006 we saw the results of this in our downtown crime reports which showed a steady increase in violent crimes. 

To address this, our city implemented an alcohol license density ordinance (ALDO) in 2007 as an overwhelming number of studies from around the globe show that limiting the number of alcohol outlets in an alcohol outlet-dense area will reduce violence and crime.

From the time ALDO was implemented until now we have seen that reduction - crime, disorder and alcohol-related crime calls to police in the ALDO area have decreased according to police records.

But now, some of our city's leaders want ALDO to go away because a few special interest groups have convinced them that the money alcohol brings in matters more than the health and safety of our community. What those groups don't include is the bill taxpayers must pick up to pay for the damage and crime that increases as the number of bars increase. 

On Tuesday, July 5th, we need you to show your support for ALDO at the Common Council meeting. Without your support, this critical ordinance may go away, a dangerous move for our downtown as the progress we've made there will be lost.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 pm, July 5th, 2011 in the:

City County Building 

Room 201

210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

The Dane County Coalition to Reduce Alcohol Abuse wants to see the Madison community, including businesses, thrive. But adding to the already saturated bar market in our downtown will not carry our neighborhood forward! Let's keep ALDO strong and make it permenent! 


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