Council Crackdown on Liquor License Renewals
Two at-risk businesses are no-shows to hearings
by Jennifer Greenup
QueenCityForum.com Magazine reporter
City Hall--Cincinnati City Council Neighborhood and Public Service Committee held its first liquor license renewals hearing this week. They are predicted to be a process used as a wakeup call for negligent business, according Councilwomen Laketa Cole.
“For these businesses, their liquor license is their bread and butter,” Cole explained. “These businesses will do what they can to make sure their businesses are safe when they realize they are going to lose their license.”
However, two of the five worst businesses that have their liquor license renewal pending failed to show up.
One of the no-shows was the Swifton Shell station on Seymour Avenue where two teens were shot on March 11, 2005. District Four Violent Crimes Squad Specialist Leonard LaBrecque said gangs are known to hang out there.
“The business is in a bad location with an elementary school right behind it,” said LaBrecque. “You have young kids watching people drinking and using drugs.”
In 2005 there were 63 calls for disorderly conduct, 12 drug arrests, two people shot, one person robbed and one person arrested for gun possession. Then, on March 9, the business was found selling drug paraphernalia.
The police department has reinforced its patrol of the business and this has helped to reduce some of the problems. However, the department feels that disallowing the sale of alcohol on the property will help even more since the owners have failed to respond to problems.
No one representing the Phoenix Café, located on 600 block of Walnut St., attended the Council meeting to answer the charges against them either. The police department and local residents did, however, attend the meeting in support of revoking its license.
Cincinnati District One Police Department reported that they made 86 runs to the Phoenix Café in 2005 and 22 runs already this year.
Betina Bartels, of the Downtown Residents Council said, “We are very concerned about her property value.”
Bartels said her building has 29 residents who have paid form $200,000 - $750,000 for their residence. The worse part, she said, is that the Phoenix Café is stopping her friends and family from coming downtown to see her.
“We are turning this into a wonderful neighborhood with the exception of this business,” said Bartels.
The third business, R P McMurphy’s Irish Pub and Coffeehouse, drew the most attention.
The Oakley-Hyde Park residents that came to object to the pub’s liquor license being renewed had nothing positive to say about the business.
Objections to the Pub’s license renewal were first made in 2004 after the police made 107 runs to the business.
“It’s a nightclub with outdoor setting,” said Debbie Gannaway, “Which means there is very loud noise and I can’t open my windows at night.”
All complained about the loud noise and the patrons parking in and throwing trash on their lawns. One resident said that mediation is not working because a nightclub does not belong in the middle of a residential area.
“We have tried mediation two times,” said Jim Tenaunfeld. “Their idea was to expand their deck to increase business.”
McMurphy's owner claimed that he has complied with the agreement made in mediation.
Public Hearings continue on April 18 at 3p.m. when committee members will vote on the renewals.
Reporter Jennifer Greenup covers the City Hall and local politics. The feature appears each Thursday exclusively in QueenCityForum.com Magazine.
contact: jenniferg@queencityforum.com
by Jennifer Greenup
QueenCityForum.com Magazine reporter
City Hall--Cincinnati City Council Neighborhood and Public Service Committee held its first liquor license renewals hearing this week. They are predicted to be a process used as a wakeup call for negligent business, according Councilwomen Laketa Cole.
“For these businesses, their liquor license is their bread and butter,” Cole explained. “These businesses will do what they can to make sure their businesses are safe when they realize they are going to lose their license.”
However, two of the five worst businesses that have their liquor license renewal pending failed to show up.
One of the no-shows was the Swifton Shell station on Seymour Avenue where two teens were shot on March 11, 2005. District Four Violent Crimes Squad Specialist Leonard LaBrecque said gangs are known to hang out there.
“The business is in a bad location with an elementary school right behind it,” said LaBrecque. “You have young kids watching people drinking and using drugs.”
In 2005 there were 63 calls for disorderly conduct, 12 drug arrests, two people shot, one person robbed and one person arrested for gun possession. Then, on March 9, the business was found selling drug paraphernalia.
The police department has reinforced its patrol of the business and this has helped to reduce some of the problems. However, the department feels that disallowing the sale of alcohol on the property will help even more since the owners have failed to respond to problems.
No one representing the Phoenix Café, located on 600 block of Walnut St., attended the Council meeting to answer the charges against them either. The police department and local residents did, however, attend the meeting in support of revoking its license.
Cincinnati District One Police Department reported that they made 86 runs to the Phoenix Café in 2005 and 22 runs already this year.
Betina Bartels, of the Downtown Residents Council said, “We are very concerned about her property value.”
Bartels said her building has 29 residents who have paid form $200,000 - $750,000 for their residence. The worse part, she said, is that the Phoenix Café is stopping her friends and family from coming downtown to see her.
“We are turning this into a wonderful neighborhood with the exception of this business,” said Bartels.
The third business, R P McMurphy’s Irish Pub and Coffeehouse, drew the most attention.
The Oakley-Hyde Park residents that came to object to the pub’s liquor license being renewed had nothing positive to say about the business.
Objections to the Pub’s license renewal were first made in 2004 after the police made 107 runs to the business.
“It’s a nightclub with outdoor setting,” said Debbie Gannaway, “Which means there is very loud noise and I can’t open my windows at night.”
All complained about the loud noise and the patrons parking in and throwing trash on their lawns. One resident said that mediation is not working because a nightclub does not belong in the middle of a residential area.
“We have tried mediation two times,” said Jim Tenaunfeld. “Their idea was to expand their deck to increase business.”
McMurphy's owner claimed that he has complied with the agreement made in mediation.
Public Hearings continue on April 18 at 3p.m. when committee members will vote on the renewals.
Reporter Jennifer Greenup covers the City Hall and local politics. The feature appears each Thursday exclusively in QueenCityForum.com Magazine.
contact: jenniferg@queencityforum.com
posted by Queen City Forum Mag @ 11:28 PM
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