Mike Deming, president of a development company that has purchased a number of properties in downtown Hagerstown, this week told the City Council he would like to hold a music festival on South Potomac Street on Saturday, Oct. 21.
Other than seeking the council's permission to close off one block of the street, Deming did not ask for any city funds. But despite Deming's investment in downtown, most council members did not give it a rousing endorsement.
That's a mistake. It's possible to disagree on some of the details, such as whether an exception should be made to allow hard liquor on the street despite the city's ban on open containers of alcohol.
But that's a detail, not a deal-breaker. The council needs to give such proposals a resounding endorsement, then work to see what will or won't be possible during such an event. As it happens, we agree with members of the council who noted that while beer has been allowed at events such as the Blues Fest and Augustoberfest, hard liquor has not.
