Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety And Nightlife Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Licensing committee recommends nonrenewal of La Cueva’s licenses after year of violence and safety complaints
Summary
The Milwaukee Licensing Committee voted to recommend the nonrenewal of La Cueva’s tavern and related licenses after repeated incidents — including fights, a shooting and crowd-control problems — and repeated neighborhood complaints.
The Licensing Committee recommended nonrenewal of La Cueva’s licenses after reviewing police reports, eyewitness testimony and video evidence that committee members said showed recurring public-safety problems at the restaurant and bar at 2537 W. National Ave.
Committee members said the decision was driven by repeated incidents since the business opened, including large, late-night fights, a shooting in which a patron and a security guard were wounded, multiple police premise checks, and instances where the business did not provide immediately-usable video surveillance to investigators. Aldermanic and neighborhood witnesses told the committee crowds from the bar block local streets, leave trash and create noise and disorder that disturb long-term residents.
Alderwoman José G. Zamarripa (8th District) made the motion recommending nonrenewal, saying the record shows “operation results in a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the public.” The committee voted to send a nonrenewal recommendation to the Common Council; the report will be forwarded to council and the licensee has the opportunity to file written exceptions and to appear before the full council. Attorney Travis Gresham confirmed the committee will prepare findings of fact and advised the owner on appeal timelines.
Police testimony and social-media video excerpts cited at the hearing described several serious incidents. Milwaukee Police Department officers said they found spent shell casings and a blood trail after a March incident in the alley behind the business and later received footage of a June outside fight that drew a crowd and caused traffic disruption. Officers also described New Year’s Eve enforcement that counted the crowd at more than the premise capacity (see clarification below). MPD witnesses told the committee the business has repeatedly been the focus of assigned patrols and that officers have found the business reluctant to provide immediately usable surveillance video in several investigations.
Neighbors and tenants described repeated late-night problems: loud crowds, fights, people urinating and increased drug activity in the alley behind the building, and vehicles blocking residential parking. The building owner testified he has filed for eviction and told the committee he found an application purporting to use the building’s kitchen that he had not authorized.
The licensee and counsel disputed some of the characterizations and emphasized steps taken since March, including a meeting with MPD, added cameras and a security plan; counsel asked the committee to consider progressive discipline such as a suspension instead of nonrenewal. The committee majority said the pattern and frequency of incidents since this business opened two years ago (managerial turnover and incidents began within weeks of opening) made progressive discipline insufficient.
The Licensing Committee’s recommendation now goes to the Common Council for a final decision. Under council rules the applicant may file written exceptions to the committee report (deadline specified in the council notice) and may appear before the council when the matter is considered.
