Bill's Blues license suspended

Just a simple question: What's the city supposed to do? Simply ignore that no taxes are being paid? Is that fair to other businesses in the area? How about the landlord, who apparently is not getting rent? What kind of exceptions are you looking for? Evidently you are not consuming enough in Bill's Blues to sustain the business (assuming the owner is honest). Or the business model is flawed.

The nightlife (what little there is of it) and the arts in Evanston stand to lose a lot if Bill's Blues falls by the wayside. Evanston needs a performance space where music other than Rap , Hip-Hop and Indie can be heard. S.P.A.C.E. and Pete Miller'just isn't enough. There should be MORE live music venues in Evanston. Perhaps our short-sighted local government hasn't realized the revenue potential of a vibrant night life scene where more than just the current trends are featured. Bill's Blues demise will be a depressing event for those of us who live in Evanston and the surrounding communities who actually care about preseveing live music in all of it's forms.

This is a shame! While people want to stay home to save money, they still come out to see live musicians creating live music. They are pretty sick of the fare presented on both commercial and cable TV, sick of listening to mind numbing DJ produced noise and crave that human touch. The suspension of the liquor license closes the only venue on the North Shore that operates 7 days a week and presents live musicians at decent charges. Monday through Wednesday, there is no cover charge at all! Admission is free! Thursday, the charge is $5.00, if any. Friday through Sunday, the cover charge is $10 or $15, dependent on the talent presented. Bill's is a major cultural addition to Evanston. It presents events at a reasonable charge, has in the past helped other media artists by displaying their works for sale and has done as much as is possible to display the diversity of the cultures in the city of Evanston. The public should be encouraged to help Bill's Blues to stay open

We all know the economy is in poor condition. What does the Mayor want another vacant property? Why doesn't the city start to lower its fees to keep businesses alive?

Maybe if Bill's Blue need to waste money on a facade the city would waste federal dollars to provide them a grant which keeps a few useless city employees on the payroll.

Maybe the Mayor should not take any more lobbying trips, and use the money to help out the small businesses by reducing fees?

I know another small business owner in the downtown who appears he will be closing, since the city has about killed his business with the so called economic development activity and high taxes.