Proposed Early Street Business Brings Opposition, Support
Hearing for bar/restaurant at 4 Early St. rescheduled for to-be-determined future date.
Is it a safety issue? Or, a racial issue?
Both sides were presented by residents at Tuesday night's council meeting in regard to a proposed liquor license transfer by the Walsh family–whose members also own Sona Thirteen, Tashmoo and The Dark Horse–to the Early Street property currently known as Futbolandia #2, which had previously been a banquet hall that catered primarily to Hispanic customers.
Over a dozen letters of complaint signed by various residents–including Board of Education member Terri Murphy and Margarita Armington, wife of council member Stefan Armington–were submitted prior to the meeting. By law, the hearing needed then to be rescheduled at a later date, to allow the applicant the opportunity to review those letters.
Though the application was not heard Tuesday night, that did not stop a number of residents on both sides of the proposal from speaking out.
Phillip Fielding started by reading the letter aloud. "I support the increased population density and business area near the Green to lessen the tax burden on the single-family home owners like myself," the letter begins. "But, I object to the transfer of the liquor license to the place of business at 4 Early St."
The letter goes on to state that area is a "traditionally economically disadvantaged area," near a school zone and community service organizations, and students and families often walk by that area where the proposed bar/restaurant would be located.
"Allowing a bar to operate in the corridor between Morristown High School and Alexander Hamilton School and The Neighborhood House and Salvation Army is an inappropriate expansion of business into a residential area," the letter concludes.
Elliott Street resident Mary Ann Taylor, who read another letter of objection at the meeting, expressed concern over "undesirable interactions" and concerns the place would be a "base for reaching out to our students."
Those comments brought William Walsh, the liquor license holder for the property, out of his seat. He noted the location was 1,100 feet from Morristown High School, or "five-and-a-half times the ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) Commission benchmarks." Walsh also noted the former Colonial Bar & Liquors on Washington Street, which his family briefly owned before it was closed last year, was closer to the high school.
"I don't know if there's more to it than meets the eye," Walsh said in regard to resident complaints. "But, the argument it's close to the high school does not fly."
"The Colonial was there and approved a long time [ago], that's not the point," Margarita Armington said. She noted an earlier honor given to Officer Anthony O'Brien for having the most DWI arrests in Morris County in 2011, and a comment by Police Chief Peter Demnitz that his force have to already keep in control a bar crowd of 1,200 to 1,500 every night at "Last Call."
"The police will be overrun. They're already overrun," she said.
Walker Avenue resident Michelle Miller said the restaurants along Speedwell Avenue are already filled with men standing outside, smoking and occasionally harassing her while she walks by with her baby. "Having another bar is going to hurt more, not less," she said.
Not every person that spoke at the meeting, however, was against the bar and restaurant approval on Early Street.
"I think it would be a really nice place," said Pablo Garita, of Mount Kemble Avenue. "When I heard about it, I wanted to come support it."
Garita also said he was offended when someone referred to the possibility of it being "seedy."
"There's a bit of a divide here between Hispanics and those that speak English," said Prospect Street resident Eduardo Jimenez. "It would be good to have this place. And, it might actually bring the community together."
When Cesar Quintero came up to speak, he made a point to call the proposed business a "restaurant" instead of a "bar."
"It doesn't matter if it's a liquor license, it's how you hold the liquor license," he said. "These Spanish people will work really hard to behave. Most of the people cite schools [as a concern.] There are schools everywhere."
Abby Mohr, who has worked with the Walsh family at several of their businesses, said, "I think people are forgetting that we have a huge Hispanic population.
"There's no place for the Hispanic population to go," she said. "I've seen them walk to the Green, go to places, get harassed and get kicked out. This is, on some level, a racial issue."
Mohr also noted the location being discussed already has allowed for liquor consumption.
"They [the Hispanic population] are already working in every restaurant we go to," she said. "We need to be more supportive."
Charlotte Quero, a Franklin Street resident that also has worked with the Walsh family, said the division between cultures in Morristown, specifically in regard to the Hispanic population: "It makes them feel like outsiders.
"We need to be able to cater to all ethnicities and nationalities," she said.
A rescheduled date for the application hearing was not yet set at the meeting.
In This article
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Sona Thirteen
13 South St, Morristown, NJ -
Tashmoo Restaurant & Bar
8 Dehart St, Morristown, NJ -
Dark Horse Lounge
4 Dehart St, Morristown, NJ -
Morristown High School
50 Early St, Morristown, NJ -
Alexander Hamilton Elementary School
24 Mills St, Morristown, NJ -
Morristown Neighborhood House
12 Flagler St, Morristown, NJ
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Salvation Army
95 Spring St, Morristown, NJ -
Sally Beck
8:56 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Yes, the Wal$h family truly cares about the 'underserved' population!
Spaceman47
11:28 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Quit your crying Sally!!
A Mohr
11:28 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
I had many issues with what the small group of women, the only ones objecting this RESTAURANT [yes, that will now serve alcohol], when they said "those people" and referring to the Hispanic Population as "seedy." I thought this was appaling.
Morristown's Hispanic Population is a part of every single business you enter. Not only restaurants, but the area's shops, offices, blue collar, white collar places of business etc. They are the back bone of this great town of ours and these women ought to be ashamed of themselves for speaking like that.
John of Patch just wrote an article that "The 2000 Census counted 5,034 Hispanic people living in town, representing 27 percent of Morristown's overall population. The American Community Survey estimates for 2005-2009 show that number rising to 6,232—or 33.4 percent. In addition, the population of those who speak a language other than English in their homes has rises from 5858 (33.4 percent) to 7,055 (39.8 percent)."
To ignore the fact that this group is a vital part of our community is terrible. I have not been employed by several of the Walsh's locations. I am a concerned member of Morristown and am appalled that there can still be such a divide as there is in such a growing and diverse town that we live in.
A Mohr
11:30 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
John closed the article with a quote from John Skrodinsky, with Wind of the Spirit, an immigration resource center based in Morristown since 2000 "In terms of Morristown specifically, "this just means it's a challenge to the town, the county to be able to welcome the diversity and to appreciate the gifts the immigrant population brings to the town and county," Skrodinsky said. "We need to be able to reach out to be good neighbors to all those who live in the town and county, and recognize there will always be difference and difficulties. But, there is so much the immigrant population provides to this area and many benefits this population brings.""
I think this says it all.
Dipper
11:36 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
William Walsh for mayor!!!! He is an ambassador to the Hispanic community!!!!
Spaceman47
11:41 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
I'm Spanish and you don't see me crying!!!
Dan Z
2:37 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
We should all give the Hispanic population a chance to live and be welcomed in morristown!
J Shaw
7:51 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
It seems like clear to me, a non-Hispanic resident of Morristown for over ten years, that there is some sort of underlying hidden agenda brought out by the opposition. The facts are clear: 30-some-odd percent of the community is Hispanic, and zero percent of the restaurants/bars specifically cater to them. If those who oppose suggest that the reason not to grant a restaurant/bar to the Hispanic community, is because it is too close to the school, they better prepare a better excuse. I used to live on Atno Ave, directly across from the school, and witnessed high school kids selling drugs right in my front yard. Between the under age smoking, drinking, and illegal drug use that occurs directly across the street from the high school parking lot, a restaurant/bar that doesn't permit anyone under 21 to step foot in the premises should be welcomed with open arms by the community ... You don't have to read between the lines to find inequality brought on by the opposition. Wait until the Hispanic version of The Reverand Al Sharpton catches wind of this... Say goodbye to the newest Hoboken-like hotpot, goodbye to a place we could have all felt proud to live in, and say hello to the place where The American Dream once showed signs of light, but was burned out and put to rest all in the name of scared clowns that naively believe their kids aren't following mommy and daddy's footsteps because "of those god dam minorities" they've unjustly used as scapegoats for generations.
A. Citizen
8:44 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
There are always going to be a few busybody bored housewives that object to everything. They have absolutely nothing better to do with their time and are desperate to feel relevant.
Ryan
9:36 am on Thursday, April 26, 2012
Hard to disagree...
A. Citizen
8:46 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Morristown High School - ok for drugs and gangs, not ok for family businesses. wtf!
Alex enrriquez
9:04 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
I support fubolandia sports bar is gonna be a nice place for all the spanish people. To go there eat watch ouur favorito Socorro tema n have fun and feel wellcome
Agustin El Capitán Mota
10:31 pm on Sunday, April 29, 2012
I worked at futbolandia and dark horse as the private security.I have never seen a issue in my almost 2 years of working there.This issue is causing many people to lose money,inlcuding myself.The place is a very quiet and peacefull area for the latino community to gather and celebrate various events...birthdays,weddings,and also sport events.I believe preventing the opening will only cause more problems in town. I support futbolandia sports bar and everyone involved with them.In addition when futbolandia is empty by 2am and everyone is on their way home there is still people partying it up at the other places in town.We follow every rule and yet we get treated like outsiders.Its not fair to anyone.