Commission Approves Teen-Access Permit 2-1, Over Objection

Other Committee · Meeting of October 15, 2026

Lowell License Commission split 2-1 to let 18-to-20-year-olds into a hip-hop festival event despite safety concerns. Commissioner Donahue dissented, saying "we have it on film that someone under 21 was in there, and it later became a major problem" at Tesco Bar Performance Center, where the applicant's manager, Rachel Lugo, confirmed the venue had not contacted Lowell police and had not brought its written security plan to the meeting. The motion carried 2-1 with Donahue voting "negative." The three-member panel, down two seats with Commissioners Underwood and Wong absent, also continued a liquor license transfer hearing for an applicant recorded as HLE Target to November 5 and deferred a discussion of the city's alcoholic beverages regulations until all five commissioners could attend, calling it "a serious issue." The board separately approved roughly a dozen special-event and one-day liquor permits, including 27 licenses for UMass Lowell basketball concessions.

In the full story:

• One commissioner then stated direct reservations rooted in the venue's history
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 1,994 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of October 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.