Direct Access to the City’s Most Powerful Elected Official
FHNA General Membership Meeting 7pm – Tuesday November 17th Christ Lutheran Church Center 701 S. Charles Street Directions HERE
Important Community Meeting Reminder
November 17th, 2009
Rather Be Home With the Family?
Admittedly, time is such a precious commodity and family time often is the best part of the day. Most of us are loathe to sacrifice precious family time especially after a tough day on the job.
True Commitment Requires Some Sacrifice!
Given the busy, stressful schedule that Mayor Dixon is required to keep, it is easy to imagine she would rather be with family than anywhere else. However, the Mayor feels so strongly about personally hearing your views on the pending Live Entertainment and Dancing Legislation that she is coming to FHNA’s November General Membership Meeting on Tuesday.
The Mayor’s appearance represents a unique opportunity for you to have direct access to the one city official whose pen will decide if legislation that will permit every bar and restaurant near the Cross Street Market to be eligible to offer live entertainment and dancing becomes law. You should also be aware that Senator Nathaniel McFadden reportedly intends to introduce legislation in Annapolis during the upcoming session that would allow bars and restaurants to stay open until 4am (as opposed to the current 2am closing requirement).
The Commercial Real Estate and Liquor Lobbies are hard at work. We need to seize this opportunity to make our voices heard as Federal Hill Residents. Mayor Dixon is providing us this last chance Tuesday night. She has until November 26 to either veto the live entertainment and dancing legislation or it will pass into law.
A Defining Moment for Federal Hill Residents
These monumental changes in both state and city legislation will inevitably produce bigger late night crowds and additional public safety challenges, but the Live Entertainment Bills (3) passed by City council on October 26th provide no additional funding for enforcement and instead relies on the current system of “complaint driven” (i.e. 311 or 911) emergency personnel deployment. The current system is already strained to the max.
Can we really trust the neighborhood’s bars and their customers to keep a commitment to exercise more restraint with 2 more hours to party?
Simply put you can sacrifice a little time on Tuesday Night to share with the Mayor. Or be faced with the future prospect of further sacrificing your family’s peace and quiet.
Paul W Robinson
President Federal Hill Neighborhood Association
E-mail comments, compliments, concerns criticisms HERE
FHNA Members in Good Standing will vote on a motion urging Mayor Dixon either to Veto or sign into law the Live Entertainment and Dancing Legislation. Left click on the appropriate Bill Number (
Mayor Dixon is anxious to hear directly your thoughts as a Federal Hill resident on the impact that the introduction of live entertainment and dancing at bars and restaurants will have on the quality of life in our neighborhood.
One – on – One
On October 26th, by a 9 to 5 vote, the City Council approved legislation that would change the city Zoning Code and overturn a 20 year moratorium preventing live and entertainment and dancing from being offered in Federal Hill. The 8×10 and Mum’s are the only exceptions.
Under this new legislation, more than 23 additional venues within a 3 square block radius of the Cross Street Market would be eligible for a conditional use grant to offer live entertainment and dancing. Review the text of Bills 08-0163, 09-0387, and 09-0373.
In addition, State Senator Nathaniel J. McFaddenhas announced his intention to propose an Amendment to the State Liquor Laws (Article 2B) which would extend the operating hours/closing time for businesses licensed to sell and serve alcohol in Baltimore City from 2am to 4am.
Mayor Dixon has until November 26 to veto the Live Entertainment Legislation or it will automatically become law, even without the Mayor’s signature.
Should this occur any enforcement will continue to be “complaint driven”. This could be considered an extremely burdensome and potentially perilous responsibility for Federal Hill residents confronted with the presence of a disruptive business that is a threat to public safety.
Seize this opportunity to communicate your thoughts directly to the one person who can make a difference on this issue.
Doors open at 6:30pm. FHNA Members in Good Standing will have the opportunity to vote on a formal motion to urge Mayor Dixon to e
ither veto the Live Entertainment and Dancing Legislation or sign the bills into law.
The Mayor cares enough to come to us directly this coming Tuesday for our opinions. Your presence and your passion will send a message about how much you care about your community, too.
Please encourage all of your neighbors to join us on Tuesday Night for this extremely important and unprecedented opportunity to speak directly with Mayor Dixon about the future of Federal Hill.
Paul W Robinson – President Federal Hill Neighborhood Association