ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH - Sat Jan 10 2009 17:39:00
Savannah’s media seems to have Alzheimer’s.
SMN, SAV , JCL and TOC are reporting a fatal shooting at Bull and 41st, outside Club Exclusive without giving any important background.
None of them seem to remember that this weekend’s homicide actually resulted from shots fired about two years ago.
From SMN February 2007:
“Despite a deadly shooting a month ago, the Savannah City Council on Thursday renewed the liquor license for Club Exclusive.”
That crime made headlines because a mob of people pushed police outside the club and an officer fired his weapon into the air.
Club Exclusive’s owner faced an hour long hearing on the matter at Savannah City Council. There were claims of racism and claims that this club in the inner city was being singled out while Southside establishments with worse records were not.
The owner was also admonished directly by the Mayor.
Mayor Johnson: It is clear and I know it; people don’t like to deal with it, but there are folks who wish those clubs would disappear. Therefore, if you are going to stay there, if we grant the licenses, then if you ever come back up here, you will be in serious trouble.
Mayor Johnson: Mr. Smalls, do you understand the situation you are in?
Mr. Smalls: Yes I do.
Mayor Johnson: Do you understand that we are not playing!
Mr. Smalls: Yes, sir.
In order to justify renewing the license, City Council imposed new security restrictions on the locations, which according to testimony in May of 2007 (pg. 5) were not being followed.
“Mr. Clay said they have been monitoring the situation at Club Exclusive and could report that there was one incident that Lt. Riley was concerned that the security people were not using the wands. He met with the owners and told them that they must abide by the security rules.”
The Club Exclusive case also led directly to the death of Club Oz and the Loco’s Liberation Ordinance.
I cannot wait to see if the Mayor stays true to his word and requires at least a show cause hearing before granting the 2009 renewal of the Club Exclusive liquor license. Of course, if the media doesn’t remind folks of all that came before, why would he?
