I will appoint a UW student to the Alcohol License Review Committee. Ald. Bryon Eagon, The Daily Cardinal and Badger Herald have made convincing cases for the benefits of having a student as a voting member of the ALRC. Students have a unique perspective on these issues and their voices should be heard. Moreover, when UW students show an interest in civic issues, that interest should be encouraged. My hope is that student interest in alcohol policy issues might be the opening for increased student interest in other important civic issues like transportation, economic development, education, lake water quality and downtown redevelopment.
Having said that, I cannot support the proposal to create a student seat on the ALRC as a matter of right in city ordinance. My concern is that this would create a slippery slope of groups demanding their own designated seat on the ALRC. We could expect that the UW administration, the Tavern League, the Capital Neighborhoods and any number of other groups would ask to be treated the same as UW students. In the end, this would create an unwieldy committee of various interest groups when what's desired is nine citizens with the overall best interest of the city at heart.
I look forward to the City Council's approval of a new ALRC citizen seat at the Council meeting on Tuesday night. When that is approved, I will work with Ald. Eagon to find a student to be nominated for the ALRC.
—David Cieslewicz
Mayor
