The most pressing topic at the Revere License Commission meeting was the proposed week-long carnival by Fiesta Shows. John Flynn, representing the event, highlighted that it had been several years since such an event was held in the city. However, the choice of location quickly became contentious. City Councilor Anthony Cogleandro voiced concerns, describing the area as a “traffic nightmare” and questioning the feasibility of hosting a carnival there. Cogleandro underscored issues such as potential traffic congestion, safety risks from asbestos contamination after a fire, and the need for a detailed security plan.

Fire Chief James Colin reinforced these concerns, emphasizing that the location would be difficult for emergency services to navigate due to increased traffic. He pointed out, “The traffic concerns would jam up that square road as our gateway to the north of the city,” and warned of potential parking issues that could endanger residents. Deputy Chief Paul Chver added that the current emergency plan was insufficient, lacking the necessary emergency exits, and pointed to the ongoing activity of adjacent businesses as a logistical problem.

Captain Thomas Malone of the Revere Police Department echoed the concerns, noting that the proposed site was less contained compared to previous event locations, which allowed for better traffic management. He highlighted the risks of parking overflow into residential areas and the challenges posed by ongoing construction and high traffic volumes from nearby businesses. The overarching sentiment was that the police department might struggle to ensure adequate security under these conditions.

Given the multitude of concerns, the commission leaned towards not approving the carnival at the proposed location. Instead, they decided to table the request, granting Fiesta Shows the chance to revise their safety plan and consider alternative locations that would not pose such significant public safety risks.

In contrast, the meeting also saw successful approvals for other licenses. Michelle Nuan’s application for a common victual license for her business, Breuan Cafe, located on Broadway, was approved without opposition. Her cafe will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., seven days a week, with a seating capacity of 16.

Rose Burns, events manager for the City of Revere, successfully obtained a one-day malt, wine, common victual, and entertainment license for the annual fall festival to be held at Suffolk Downs. The festival, relocated from City Hall to accommodate a larger crowd, expects an attendance of around 2,500. Twisted Fate Brewery will manage ID checks and wristband distribution to ensure responsible alcohol consumption.

Another notable approval was for Todd R. Angelie’s one-day common victual and entertainment license for a fundraising motorcycle ride event on Squire Road. Scheduled for October 18th, 2025, the event anticipates 400 attendees and will feature entertainment and registration at Boston Harley in Revere. Angelie assured that no alcohol would be sold, and all proceeds would benefit charities such as the Thomas Smith Foundation and the Navy Seal Foundation. The commission expressed initial concerns about traffic management, but the event’s collaboration with local police authorities helped allay these worries.

The final significant agenda item involved a change of manager at Colewin Management, Inc., operating as Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Express Revere. Kevin Butler presented Desiree Uliano as the new manager. The commission approved the managerial change without opposition.

The meeting also touched on an application for an all-alcohol restaurant license by Ocean King, Inc., with manager Jim Ning proposing a new establishment on Revere Beach Boulevard. Ning faced questions regarding his preparedness for managing an alcohol license due to a lack of direct experience. The commission opted to table this application, recommending that Ning obtain TIP certification to demonstrate his understanding of alcohol service laws before proceeding.