Possible vote tonight for Big Bear liquor license

Message from ANC Commissioner, John Salatti on today's Bloomingdale listserv:

"At the next ANC meeting on Tuesday, July 20th at Trinity University (starting about 7:00 pm), the ANC will likely vote for or against supporting the Big Bear Cafe`s application for a license to serve alcohol. So if you have strong feelings about this issue, this is a meeting you should definitely considere attending. Unfortunately, I won`t be able to attend myself. The ANC added this meeting to its schedule just last week. Because our original schedule of meetings for the year did not include one for July, I had already planned to be out of town that day. I may be able to call into the meeting to vote and once again show my support for the Cafe, but that is not assured. And because he is a commissioner, Stuart Davenport has to recuse himself and will not be able to vote. And right now, my gut says the remaining votes are running against the Cafe.

At our last meeting earlier this month, a small group of residents appeared with a resolution asking the ANC to vote against the application. Although I know some neighbors oppose this license, I also know a much larger number of people support it. And Stuart is working hard to reach out and find common ground with people who are against the license. But everyone has a right to her or his point of view pro or con. However, I hope that the large majority of people who favor giving the Bear a chance to expand its business and what it has to offer the neighborhood will come out and be a positive presence on behalf of the Big Bear, especially if you live within two blocks of 1st & R."

So far, I haven't touched on this issue, because I haven't been following it closely enough. But I do very much support Big Bear's pursuit of a liquor license. I might try to make it to the meeting tonight to lend some extra support to the cause.

Although I have had my issues with Big Bear in the past, I will admit that it is a crucial part of the contemporary Bloomingdale community. They have really brought a world of good on this neighborhood and deserve the right to be able to expand and grow.

And I want to be able to sit down and enjoy a drink somewhere without leaving my nieghborhood! Is that too much to ask ANC? Is it?