Mayor Joel Day has a plan to allow outdoor drinking downtown, but only during special events. Residents have debated the DORA – designated outdoor refreshment area – for months.
On one side has been business owners and event organizers who say it will boost business. The other side has included recovering alcoholics and family members who say it will set a poor example for kids and encourage bad behavior.
Mayor Day, in his written mayor’s report this week, said he is proposing a DORA only for special events downtown, such as Art on the Alley and summer concerts.
Guests would be allowed to drink alcohol only out of designated cups bought at local establishments in a 12-block area. Day did not talk about the DORA at Monday’s Council meeting, but Councilwoman Cheryl Ramos spoke against it. “It would change our community, culture, values and community norms about open-carry alcohol, especially in front of minors and those in recovery and those who struggle with alcohol.”
She suggested beer gardens or special events that allow outdoor drinking only during later hours. “Split the times of the event for open-carry alcohol. For example, 10 to 6 is family time, 6 to 10 is DORA time.”
There will be a public hearing on the DORA application on Aug. 19
Copyright WTUZ Radio Inc., 2024