Soglin vetoes State Street Taco Bell liquor license

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Kellie Keesee/CNN

Mayor Paul Soglin vetoed a liquor license for the Taco Bell on State Street Monday.

Soglin said he sees few pluses in allocating a liquor license to Taco Bell and only cited the costs associated with giving the fast-food restaurant one.

“I see little public value in issuing a liquor license to Taco Bell and enormous costs to the residents of Madison and in our city government,” Soglin said in a statement.

Soglin lists public health and safety concerns as reasons why he is against issuing the license. He said he is opposed to issuing a liquor license to any new establishment in the State Street area.

He also said concerns about increased competition for local businesses factored into his decision.

In a press conference, Soglin repeatedly referred to a liquor license as a “privilege” rather than a “right.”

“We have no obligation to grant it,” he said.

The Common Council could override Soglin’s veto with a vote of at least 14 alders.

District 3 Alder Amanda Hall, who voted in favor of granting the license, said she thinks an override is likely, calling the mayor’s veto a “waste of time.”

Hall said she thinks denying the license would present a host of legal issues.

“This is probably going to be a veto that is overridden, and I don’t think we should waste people’s time,” she said. “In Madison, we have guidelines that we’ve passed and they outline what a business has to do in order to get an alcohol license. The applicant, in this case, fulfilled all those things. To arbitrary deny them the license would be extremely unfair and would totally invite a lawsuit.”

District 4 Alder Mike Verveer said he shares some of the mayor’s concerns over the proposed location, but said he also sees an override as likely. Verveer also voted to approve the license.

“I appreciate the mayor’s message, but I don’t think it will change minds on the council,” Verveer said. “I have no real enthusiasm for this license whatsoever but I will, say that the Madison Police Department did not oppose the license, they did not object to the license…if anything, they tacitly supported it.”

Flynn Restaurant Group, the restaurant franchisee, did not return News 3’s phone call requesting comment as of Monday evening.

The Common Council is next scheduled to meet in January.

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