A city committee on Friday green-lighted a request to use Downtown streets for a "Walkerville" protest village starting Saturday night, setting the stage for a continuous presence by opponents of Gov. Scott Walker's budget who will spend their nights camped in tents along the roads.

But not everyone Downtown is happy about it.

"If a bike-riding event is bad for business, then a tent city is, too," wrote John Taylor, owner of an art gallery on North Carroll Street, in an email to the city.

While he acknowledged some food vendors may see a little pickup in business, he doubted protesters would clamor for what he sells: antiquities, notable books and rare maps. And having protesters camped outside will only worsen a problem the store already has with homeless people loitering out front, said one of his employees, David Landau.

At the city's Street Use Staff Commission meeting, the plan won support from County Sup. Annalise Eicher, City Council member Lisa Subeck and Mayor Paul Soglin's office.

"It's a great opportunity for the city of Madison to help with the idea of open government," Eicher said, noting that access to the state Capitol has been drastically restricted since the mass protests in February and March.