Urgent Message!

                          

There is an event in downtown Waukesha called Freeman Friday Night Live. It is sponsored by several businesses down there. It is also sponsored by TMJ 4 and of course The Waukesha Freeman. From June through September Waukesha closes a couple of the streets downtown and businesses band together and sponsor stages where live music is performed. There are 7 stages spread out all over downtown each featuring different artist and genres of music. You get to walk around, check out the various stores, cafés, art galleries and clubs or grab a seat at one of the stages and listen to local live music.

For Free

There is no cover charge, not tickets to buy, no parking to pay at all to attend Freeman Friday Night Live. We have performed at this event on several occasions. Chris and Francesca have done solo performances in the past. It is a wonderful experience and unique to Waukesha.

It is also in danger of being forced out of existence.

It appears that there are some businesses in downtown that don’t seem to understand what a great opportunity this event provides for them and want it to cease. They have been unsuccessful in other attempts so they have proposed an ordinance change that would among other things ban people from walking their leashed dogs downtown during the event, requiring the sponsors of the event to supply a massive amount of “Porta-potties”, employ a dedicated police force expressly for the event and carry a 2 million dollar insurance policy.

We found out about this at our recent gig at The SteamingCup. Kerry Mackay, the owner of The Steaming Cup, asked to make a small announcement during our show where he informed us of the situation. Chris actually lives on Main Street in downtown Waukesha, right in the middle of this event. He went home and sent the following email to his Alderman Roger Patton and Mayor Jeff Scrima,

Sir,

It has been brought to my attention that an ordinance is being reviewed requiring event organizers to meet a list of regulations that would effectively destroy Friday Night Live in Downtown Waukesha. I see no reason for any of the items listed in this bill.

I live on Main street, above "Art and Framing", and am always proud to tell people about this event. I've brought folks from Illinois, Michigan, even Texas to Friday Night Live and they are all impressed with the experience. No one has ever seen an event like this. In addition to living, literally, in the middle of this event I am a musician and have had the opportunity to perform at this event on several occasions in various bands and as a solo performer and I have never once seen the need to eliminate dogs, hire its own police force or supply a massive amount of Porta-potties. I've never had an experience where there was even the most remote possibility of getting hurt so requiring a massive insurance policy is also ludicrous. It appears to me that there are some businesses in downtown that don’t seem to understand what a great opportunity this event provides for them and want it to cease. They have been unsuccessful in other attempts so they seem to be enlisting the help of a legal team to make holding this event so expensive on the part of the sponsors that they won’t be able to afford to keep it going. 

I am angry that such petty behavior threatens such a worthwhile event. Waukesha has worked so hard to clean itself and its image up over the last several years thank by and large to the businesses that sponsor this event and put an effort into making Waukesha a city people want to visit and possibly even call home. While I understand you must consider the viewpoints of all your constituents, I implore you to do whatever you must to see that this ordinance is not passed. Waukesha deserves to continue reaping the benefits from events like Friday Night Live, if these restrictions are put in place I fear the entire Downtown business area will suffer. 

Respectfully,

Chris Koterba

319 W. Main Street - Apt E

Waukesha WI, 53186

He got almost an immediate reply from the Mayor which was impressive considering it was after midnight. The Mayor replied,

Chris,

I agree.

Please share your comments with all your friends and encourage them to come to the Ordinance Meeting this Monday night at 6:30at city hall, and share your comments with the newspaper.

Thank you 

Jeff Scrima

Mayor, City of Waukesha

www.ci.waukesha.wi.us

201 Delafield Street

Waukesha WI 53188

Chris will be taking the Mayors advice and heading to the meeting on Monday in order to show his opposition to this ordinance which is not only detrimental to Freeman Friday Night Live but to all the events in Downtown attempting to showcase this wonderful little city. Francesca and the 440 Hum would like to invite anyone who is free to come down to City Hall located at 201 Delafield St # E  Waukesha, WI 53188-3646 and tell the council how important events like Friday Night Live are to this city. 

Thank you for your support!