Following a threat from the city to request a hearing with the
state agency that issues alcohol licenses, two downtown bar owners
vowed to take additional measures to prevent the flow of violence
with intoxicated patrons onto late-night streets.
Following a threat from the city to request a hearing with the state agency that issues alcohol licenses, two downtown bar owners vowed to take additional measures to prevent the flow of violence with intoxicated patrons onto late-night streets.
“Safety is our number one priority,” said Mayor Steve Tate, who added that any solution to contain alcohol-fueled violence in downtown Morgan Hill should involve the community as a whole – and not just the police.
At last week’s council meeting, the city heard from bar owners and local residents when the council considered a proposal from police Chief Bruce Cumming to request a hearing about the state alcohol licenses for M & H Tavern and Dirty’s Tap and Taco, and to adopt a resolution declaring the businesses problematic.
The council declined to vote on either proposal, but tabled the decision until July 21, to give the bar owners and employees a chance to tangibly illustrate their commitment to pacifying their patrons and the downtown area.
Tavern owner Susan Hall said at the council meeting Wednesday she hires security personnel to guard both the front and back doors of the bar, and they routinely reject customers who appear troublesome, and are instructed to call police if they feel threatened. She added that she and her bartenders have met with police a number of times to float ideas to contain violence.
Furthermore, in response to the city’s threat to ask the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to take a closer look at their licenses, Hall added that she plans to move the outdoor smoking section to the rear of the building, and to consider installing windows to the front of the bar.
“We moved here in 1978, and it was a dream to be part of downtown,” Hall said. “We pay attention to what we are doing.”
Police brought the proposal to the council in response to recent incidents of violence downtown, in which alcohol consumption was considered a factor. At least two gravely violent incidents occurred downtown near the bars last month – a shooting May 29 and a stabbing on May 9, both of which sent victims to hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said. The victims survived both incidents.
A police department memo noted that in the last two months, police responded to 25 criminal incidents in downtown Morgan Hill, including DUI and drug-related arrests. Since Dirty’s opened in February, police have responded to 14 calls at the establishment, including rocks thrown through the windows, death threats directed toward the owner and a number of fights that did not result in serious injuries.
The staff report also includes a list of about 130 incidents and calls for police service to the Tavern since April 2005.
Council members Wednesday agreed that violence downtown is a problem, but differed on the timing of what bar owners consider the serious decision of complaining to the licensing agency.
Councilman Larry Carr said it was “unfortunate” that it took the threat of bureaucratic action to draw the crowd of bar owners, employees and patrons to the public hearing last week.
“When someone got stabbed, or when someone got shot it didn’t draw any interest. When it hits someone in the pocket book it brings interest in the situation,” Carr said.
While other council members wanted to give the bars a few more weeks to enact their vows to create a less violent atmosphere, Carr wanted to “see who does step up to the plate” sooner.
When asked why the police had not presented the list of violent incidents to the council before Wednesday’s meeting, Cumming said, “We’re using different tactics.” He added that police have tried to work with local bars in the past, but have not always been successful.
“Two problematic bars (in the downtown) create a different atmosphere,” Cumming said. “Some of the crowd has changed – the late night hours bring out a tougher crowd.”
Earlier this month, Dirty’s was informed by ABC that its temporary alcohol license will not be renewed due to the recent violence and high volume of police calls, ABC spokesman John Carr said.
Dirty’s has been closed since then, but one of the establishment’s owners spoke at Wednesday’s council meeting, and said he is in the process of changing the theme to a more family-friendly restaurant atmosphere, with more lighting inside and a new name.
