Licenses committee recommends revocation of Element Lounge after two shootings tied to activity near venue

A licensing committee overseeing Milwaukee business permits recommended revocation of Element Lounge’s licenses on Oct. 21 after Milwaukee police presented a sworn complaint linking two recent shootings to activity outside the venue.

Police detectives told the committee that on June 15 and again on July 12 officers were called to incidents just outside 618 N. Water St. In the July incident two people were killed and several others wounded; detectives described a pattern of vehicles driving onto the block, occupants firing into a crowd that had gathered outside the club, and subsequent media scrutiny and community alarm. The committee voted 4–1 to forward the revocation recommendation to the full Milwaukee Common Council.

Why it matters: Downtown business and tourism representatives told the committee that repeated acts of violence anywhere in the central business district damage the city’s reputation and can harm convention and visitor bookings that support hotels, restaurants and thousands of jobs. BID 21, the downtown…