Residents defend The Drunk Uncle and question liquor-license availability

Several West Allis residents used the council's public-participation period to speak in support of a neighborhood bar identified in comments as "The Drunk Uncle" and to ask the council about recent new liquor licenses for other businesses.

Brett Cooley, who identified himself as a West Allis resident, told the council, "I've gone there since right after it opened, from COVID," and described regular community events such as wrestling viewings that brought patrons together. Cooley questioned media coverage that suggested prolonged bad behavior at the bar and asked why council members had visited the establishment if problems were longstanding.

April Krusch, who also identified herself as a resident, said the bar served as an accepting place for people with disabilities and other socially isolated patrons. "Closing down this establishment, you are going to rip away everybody that he has grown to love," Krusch said, adding that people who depend on the social connections the bar provides would lose an important support network if it were closed.

Another speaker, Joseph Butterfield, described a broader concern about small businesses being displaced by larger corporate entities and said he supported keeping independent local businesses on the map. Several speakers also asked how many liquor licenses the city has available and whether the city creates additional licenses when new businesses request them; council members and staff said questions about specific, non-agendized licenses could be raised later in the meeting during public participation but could not be answered during the public hearing on a different agenda item.

The council did not take action during the public-participation period; in other agenda business the council later moved forward on several licensing matters through committee reports.

Why it matters: The comments reflect neighborhood concern over local licensing decisions, the social role of small businesses and bars in some residents' lives, and the perceived impact of new venues and license allocations on long-standing community establishments.

What speakers said

- Brett Cooley (resident): "I've gone there since right after it opened, from COVID." - April Krusch (resident): "Closing down this establishment, you are going to rip away everybody that he has grown to love." - Joseph Butterfield (resident): "I want to come to speak on behalf of Neil."

No formal council action on liquor-license policy occurred during the public-participation comments; later licensing actions were handled in committee and on the council floor.