$100K liquor license fees in Brookhaven (Chamblee, Boston: sales, restaurant, litigation)

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by arjay57

What is it about late night places that makes them so rowdy? Can't people just quietly have dinner or a drink without running amok?

I think "a" drink is the operative word here, arjay.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by whodean

Can you cite a "legitimate business owner" harmed?

No, of course not. And I'm not going to go try to find one either. But with vague definitions like "Venue has a stage", that's not dealing with the actual issue and could easily make a venue which has no criminal activity whatsoever liable for extremely high license fees, or else cut all of their entertainment. If they're going to take that on a case by case basis, then fine.

But, it's basically like charging everyone who drives with a reckless driving offense because some roads have reckless drivers.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

No, of course not. And I'm not going to go try to find one either. But with vague definitions like "Venue has a stage", that's not dealing with the actual issue and could easily make a venue which has no criminal activity whatsoever liable for extremely high license fees, or else cut all of their entertainment. If they're going to take that on a case by case basis, then fine.

But, it's basically like charging everyone who drives with a reckless driving offense because some roads have reckless drivers.

You have a valid point. What would be a better way to word the ordinance?

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by arjay57

You have a valid point. What would be a better way to word the ordinance?

Base it around venues with more than a certain number of disorderly conduct, public intoxication, or violent crime calls. Basing it on having a dance floor or a stage is pretty dumb.

[arjay57]

Makes sense to me!

[wasel]

I'd be happy if these businesses would just pay their taxes like they are supposed to. Three of the 4 listed in the article are delinquent and one even sent a check that was returned for insufficient funds.

To Sam's point, the businesses that are doing everything "right" shouldn't bear a burden (taxes) if these 3 aren't.

[arjay57]

Wonder how the new earlier closing hours in DeKalb have affected late night bars?

Didn't they just go into effect this year?

[Moosehd]

https://michronicleonline.com/2018/0...ist-ordinance/
Black-owned business files lawsuit against Chamblee for racist ordinance

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by Moosehd

https://michronicleonline.com/2018/0...ist-ordinance/
Black-owned business files lawsuit against Chamblee for racist ordinance

First of all, I have not read the ordinance, nor the complaint noted in the article... So, my question is: is it true that the ordinance is directly solely to minority clubs or does it apply to any and all clubs regardless of their clientele and / or owners?

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

First of all, I have not read the ordinance, nor the complaint noted in the article... So, my question is: is it true that the ordinance is directly solely to minority clubs or does it apply to any and all clubs regardless of their clientele and / or owners?

The criterion as I understand it is IF a club serving alcohol has any of the above:

- a dance floor
- a stage
- a DJ

then they have "Cabaret" status and are subject to the fee.

So, no, it is not, but it's one hell of a coincidence that all the clubs cited have these features, but not one white owned club does. In one instance, a club was deemed to have a dance floor when an inspector observed a handful of people dancing in a clearing near the jukebox.