16 posts tagged “alcohol”
Why are you wasting so much ink on this?
There are maybe 200 cabs in Savannah. Why does such a minor industry warrant soooooo much press coverage?
Today we get Three, count them three, full on pieces on the taxi industry. They are from students so I guess the SMN, as a cost cutting measure, has figured out how to get even younger and cheaper labor through the door.
1. Toma: Cab owners seek City Council-abled cartel
2. Toma: College does taxi study
3. Toma: Some cabbies want to stiff riders
Here is the deal - the city is trying to decide if they should limit the number of taxi licenses or not.
They are leaning toward doing it and regulating the industry in a method similar to but not exactly like the medallion system found in New York and Atlanta.
Who Cares?
The only time anyone who might care interfaces with a cab is when they come out of the airport or perhaps the Amtrak station but those people’s standards are already low so don’t mind them.
The other people who use cabs regularly are the responsible drunks trying to get home from downtown or the poor and elderly who do not drive.
The former don’t notice or won’t remember, the latter usually use the same person every time and are accustomed to the current situation.
Nobody cares except the cab drivers and they are a microminority and don’t deserve all this attention from the media or academia or the city bureaucracy.
On a different topic: It seems Mr. Atkins filled in for Ms. Conn at yesterday’s city council meeting. He filed a report on the Bar Card issue which was by far the most important and far reaching issue on the agenda yesterday.
The article is a quite thorough recounting of the facts and I suggest you read it if you are interesting in council’s attempts to regulate the bar industry.
Seriously - Oh Pious and Pompous One – you need to get out the ivory tower every once in a while.
I am getting a sneaking suspicion the Savannah Morning News editorial staff has some real issues. I think they see themselves as the Cassandra of Chatham Parkway and manipulate the facts in order to maintain their delusion.
The fact that this piece of dime store psychology is coming to me at 6 am does not make it any less valid.
Take, for example, this piece from Thursday:
“ …city staff will present today a proposed ordinance amendment to require licensing of wait staff and managers at establishments that sell alcohol.
City council members should support the change.”
Well DUH!
City Council members are the ones who asked for the change in the first place you ninny!
Really?
Do yah think Michael Brown was sitting in his office one day and said “You know, I just don’t have enough to do running this big ol’ city let’s find one more thing so we can do even more public hearings and really get folks riled up!” ?
There was much more “shoulding” in the piece but I had to put it down because it was just really stupid and obvious posturing for later “I told you so” moments.
Just to refresh your memory this was back in March during the Wild Wing Shaming and Slap on the Wrist Meeting:
“Alderman Van Johnson, whose district includes the City Market area, said he wants to be aggressive in pursuing city registration cards for servers and bartenders.”
“Alderman Tony Thomas plans to read his concerns into the record at Thursday's council meeting and determine whether there is consensus among others on the council.
Thomas envisions a system in which a bartender would be fined for a first offense and placed on probation for a year. If a second offense occurs within the probation period, the bartender would lose his or her city registration for five years, Thomas said.”
Of course they are going to support it they came up with it you ninny!
Addendum - Thursday, October 08, 2009 4:01:27
Okay what is with my use of the word "ninny"? Discounting its use as a name in Fried Green Tomatoes I don't think anyone has actually used that in conversation since the Hoover administration and here I managed to use it twice in less than five minutes.
BTW - I used it wrong here - apparently the original word derived from "an innocent" to mean a naive fool. The editors at the paper are not naive they know exactly what they are doing when they manipulate the facts in print.
Just a few quickies from the VOX (now that I’ve actually figured out how to find the Vox on the new site)
“The city of Savannah is making all bartenders pay $50 dollars to take an eight-hour test? Why can’t the restaurants recoup that cost? Does Savannah know how much servers get paid an hour and how depressed this economy is? City of Savannah, please think about these frivolous tests before you make bartenders take them.”
The fifty dollars should make you think about what you are
doing behind the bar. Perhaps if it hits you in your wallet you will think
twice about serving alcohol to underage individuals. Serving alcoholic
beverages is a privilege not a right and that privilege now comes with a price. BTW the last time I worked behind the bar I cleared about $250 a night so...
“It’s that time of the year again when WTOC clogs the airwaves with Fabulous Football Fridays. I don’t understand how the other news channels can fit all the high school football scores into their half-hour but WTOC needs a separate 45-minute show.”
Because they can sell a full 20 minutes of advertising within that show at a higher rate than they would otherwise get for a regular news show. Your viewing pleasure is not their main concern.
“If the city wants us to enjoy downtown they need to work out the parking rates in Whitaker garage. We came for an evening drink and appetizer and paid four dollars for an hour and a half. That is asinine. Stop ripping us off.”
Was there no sign explaining the price at the entrance to the garage? I haven’t been inside it in a while but the last time I was in there the prices were clearly marked. If you made a choice as a consumer without knowing the price how is that the city’s problem?
Question: When someone’s property rights and entrepreneurial desires will obviously lead to a higher tax burden for the city, should those rights and desires be curtailed?
Case in point; Virginia Rahn, a cute little blond in Lisa Loeb glasses, wants to open a package store on River Street down near Spanky’s.
City Council said yes even though the store is guaranteed to create open container violations which will require increased policing along River Street as well as increased problems with litter.
Will Ms. Rahn’s city taxes cover the increased police response and other city services? Shouldn’t there be a cost benefit analysis and shouldn’t businesses that use a higher level of services pay for the overage?
In my mind, this is just a bad idea. The last thing we need on River Street, where “to go” cups are plentiful, is a source for those tiny little one shot bottles. The teenager in me is thinking how easy it will be to buy a coke in a “to go” cup and then get an older friend to buy me a shot bottle of Jack from Ms. Rahn.
Shut Up Dean Kicklighter!
Despite Ms. Conn’s article to the contrary, Chatham County Commissioner Dean Kicklighter did not stick to his guns claiming fewer than 10 parking spaces will be enough for 300 customers at the latest Tompkin’s Dynasty Bar.
He did exactly as I suggested a couple of weeks ago and came with a promise of substantially more parking for the proposed Lizard Lounge at Indian and Bay Streets.
For the most part he kept his mouth shut as council discussed the proposed alcohol license for the club this week. Perhaps he will learn that keeping it shut will help him to keep his foot clear of the gaping orifice in the future.
City leaders approved the change with their now standard “we’ll be watching you” warning about keeping a law abiding, albeit drunk, clientele.
One interesting point on the proposal, it turns out the landlord there at the Lizard Lounge was one of the loudest complainants against Club Oz when patrons of that club were parking wherever they could in the area around his property. Now it seems, since he will be renting to a nightclub, he has no problem with the party people parking up his lots.
Okay, I recognize that this is a small thing. I understand that in the great expanse of our vast universe this is a historically small thing but still… it bugged me and I will address it.
“Approved a financial plan to sell or refinance about $78 million in municipal bonds. About $35 million would pay for road improvements around Savannah River Landing and for major water and sewer projects.”
Ms. Conn is writing about the “other action” at City Council this week and as is typical buries the biggest, most expensive and most far reaching news at the very bottom. But that is not what is bugging me.
No, what bugs me in this is the characterization of the newly funded projects as being “around Savannah River Landing”.
First, there is no Savannah River Landing. There is nothing there. There is not likely to be anything there by the time these improvements are finished.
No one is likely to say “oh take that road out by Savannah River Landing” or “I got stuck in traffic at Savannah River Landing” because there is no Savannah River Landing.
City Council is spending our bond money on road improvements along President Street and General McIntosh. The only role Savannah River Landing has in that would be to pay for it with an increase in tax revenue if they ever built anything which seems highly unlikely in the near term.
Ms. Conn seemed far more fascinated with the request for an alcohol license by Mr. Seaborne Tompkins. Actually Mr. Tompkins did not make the request at Council he brought a mouthpiece in the form of Chatham County Commissioner Dean Kicklighter.
Looking at my list of people I want speaking on my behalf here…. Yeah Kicklighter is way down there, after that guy who walks around town with the “abortion is murder ask me how” sign and a poo flinging capuchin monkey.
Kicklighter made a classic mistake when trying to win the good graces of City Council. He kept going on about what the rules would let them get away. In this case, he was convinced that the rules would let them get away with having only 7 parking spaces for a business hoping to attract up to 300 people at a time.
That is not what this council wants to hear.
This council wants to hear about how you plan to provide 10 times the number of spaces required and how you will personally pick up every piece of trash in a 4 block radius and the one hundred and one other ways you will go above and beyond to make sure that your establishment will be a model business, beloved by the neighbors and forgotten by police because hey, nothing ever happens out there.
As much fun as it was to watch Diminutive Dean prance about, it is kind of sad that Mr. Seaborne has sunk his inheritance into a space that doesn’t meet zoning requirements for what he wants to do and is in an area that has caused nothing but trouble for the other bar trying to make a go of it there. It seems to me if he had looked at the rules in advance and done a bit of research into earlier council rulings instead of just trying to figure out what he could get away with, he would be in much better shape right now.
Sooooooo, Savannah River Landing, what’s up with that?
As they promised Ant Hill Estates launched their new website and it is very pretty… but… well I hesitate to say anything, but … the site seems to be suffering some kind of delusional disorder.
“Finally! Enjoy historic Savannah from a newly-contstructed apartment home! There's no better spot than the famous waterfront where you're never more than a few steps from your favorite downtown attractions. We offer 1, 2, and 3-bedroom options. Each beautiful unit comes with competitive lease rates that include parking.”
Are they pitching tents out there? 1, 2, and 3-bedroom tents? I know they have the parking, that’s pretty much all they have is parking.
“Metropolitan convenience with all the comforts of a hand-crafted home. Open floor plans include two-story lofts, chic city flats, and rooftop garden penthouses. The well-appointed building features a grilling patio, media room and a terrace pool deck. Each residence comes with its own parking, laundry, storage, balcony and stunning view!”
Ummm and we’re looking, we’re looking and no I can’t find it. What “well-appointed building” would that be?
“Come and sidewalk shop in breezy coastal splendor. Finally a kid-friendly downtown where finding a parking spot is nothing short of simple. Once here you'll choose from classic brands or Savannah's variety of chic boutiques. Grab a cappuccino and a park bench for the complete European experience.”
Again, no trouble finding parking but I don’t know where they are hiding those “chic boutiques”. Maybe they’re under the sand?
The City of Savannah seems to be going along with the delusion that there is something out there other than dirt. Leaders are being asked to issue $20 million dollars in bonds backed by the taxes generated by Savannah River Landing. Officially it will be backed by all development in the President Street Corridor Tax Allocation District.
Of course you don’t get much tax revenue off an ant hill so if nothing gets built there we the taxpayers will be on the hook for the bonds. That being said, the improvements the money will pay for will be nice, President Street will be wider, General McIntosh will drain better and the whole area will be prettier so it’s not for naught.
Question: Should folks that are asking the City Council for a liquor license insult the city on their myspace page?
This caught my eye for several reasons, mostly because of the name of the company:
“Seaborne Tompkins for Saule Goode, LLC d/b/a The Iguana Room "Live Entertainment Hall", requesting a liquor, beer, and wine (drink) license at 103-105 N. Fahm Street, which is located between River and Indian Streets in District 1.”
Get it? “Saule Goode LLC” or “It’s All Good LLC”. Yeah we gots ourselves a brain trust here folks.
The other thing that grabbed me is that this appears to be the Tompkins Dynasty attempting to start another enterprise.
The family that brought you Malones, Deja Groove and Sorry
Charlies seems to be attempting to resurrect the Iguana Room.
The Lizard Lounge, as I used to call it, was above Malone’s in City Market now they want to set up shop at Jarrells Gym on Fahm St.
A quick google search turned up Mr. Tomkins’ myspace page on which he posted the following:
“city sucks
you know i really think we just need to take over this state. just do it an be done with it. i can really say with out a doubt that this place sucks the city will take everything they can from u an when u say anything about it the blacklist u from every doing anything again. ive live here for forty years an i have never seen it this bad”
All I can say is good luck with that.
I am busier than a farmer with 2 snakes and 1 hoe so I have to make this quick.
Here are a few things that warrant a mention in the local news this week but will probably be overlooked.
Project DeRenne moves forward. That little red haired gal over in the Citizen Liaison office is poised to pounce on the second phase of the massive road/neighborhood redesign.
She managed to bring the lions of commercial interests together with the lamb-like neighbors in phase one and managed to keep the slaughter to a minimum so now she is leading them forward.
This is probably not as important as it would have been back when the state had enough money to actually do something with DeRenne Avenue but it is still important because if they are not going to widen the road, what are they gonna do?
Firefly Café’s booze license is apparently changing hands.
No big deal cause it happens all the time right?
Well, in this case folks should be aware because when the restaurant got it’s license back in 2005 the city had to write a whole new law to allow it and downtown neighbors were not pleased.
Ethics policy is changing. Here is one for our friend James – The city is amending its ethics rules concerning “respectful civic engagement and conduct”. I’m not real sure what that means so I hope some intrepid reporter will find out for me.
An expensive land grab. Why is Georgia Power giving us $650 thousand bucks for just 2.75 acres of land? That’s it, just why? Somebody answer that question please.
A little something else that should get reported but won’t get reported in Savannah this week.
The Crystal Beer Parlor is back.
That should be the Crystal Beer Parlor is back again since it was already resuscitated once back in 2004. That version lasted until October of 2008 when the paper did this big thing about it being a tradition and blamed everything from the economy to nearby road work for the death of the business.
It is verified through City documents.
There is nothing in the traditional media but there is this from Craigslist which is not sourced and unverified.
Then there is this somewhat bizarre listing in the Savannah Morning News Calendar section from the middle of March:
New Orleans Dixieland Jazz
7:30 p.m. every Friday, Crystal Beer Parlor, 301 W. Jones St. Free admission. Call 443-9200.
Anywho the new name on the liquor license will be: Phillip Stellgis Nichols for 3127 LLC d/b/a Crystal Beer Parlor
There is nothing online about the company or the 46 year old license applicant. He doesn’t seem to have much of any kind of record, business or otherwise that I can find.
Warning: The following statement is completely unsubstantiated and based on nothing but wild random speculation.
I don’t wish to cast aspersions but on paper, at least, we seem to have what might be construed to look like a bunch of man-shaped straw.
Maybe some intrepid reporter should look into the company and the applicant's background so we can make sure that is NOT the case and find out who is actually behind the Beer Parlor's rebirth this time.
Addendum 1:12 AM April 6
It seems the Strawman speculation is way off base. So far all evidence points to a Mom & Pop style startup. The Secretary of State's office documents seem to show that Mr. Nichols registered his LLC with LegalZoom.com the do-it-yourself legal website.
I am ashamed of Savannah City Council.
Well, I’m ashamed of half of them.
How do I get the same treatment that bar owners in this town enjoy?
They get the Liquor License for the bar, they make huge profits from the bar but when the bar gets in trouble it’s not their fault and they avoid actual punishment.
Wild Wing Café got caught breaking liquor laws almost every time police checked in 2007 and 2008 and yet this is all they got.
One year probation? (there is no definition of what probation will entail)
$250 fine?
A 10 day liquor license suspension deferred until after St. Patrick’s Day?
During today’s Addams Family Reunion that passed for a Show Cause Hearing, the bar owner and the mysteries of science he employs admitted that the bar served booze to undercover underage agents 3 times in less than three years.
The State of Georgia found them guilty, the City of Savannah found them guilty but thanks to the council’s apparent predilection for not enforcing laws on business owners, they will not be punished until after their big Money Making St. Patrick’s Week!
Uh guys… ummmm Wild Wing actually violated the law, exceeding capacity and violating safety regulations during St. Patrick’s Day.
”…the establishment has constituted a nuisance requiring an unusual amount of police and enforcement activity due to repeated sales to underage persons resulting in convictions in Recorders Court, repeated violations of the Occupancy Ordinances by exceeding the number of allowed persons on the premises, and multiple citations for violating the State Alcoholic Beverage regulations resulting in suspensions and penalties.”
During today’s marathon meeting, council came up with what I thought was a fair punishment.
Tony Thomas moved for “One year probation, one week suspension beginning tomorrow and a $250 fine.”
He had the four votes necessary to pass it until Mr. Van “Hold Loco’s feet to the fire” Johnson had a change of heart.
Maybe he was moved by an impassioned plea from the bar owner. “The people who are being punished have not done one thing wrong!” he whined. He says his business would lose $300 thousand during the next week if they could not serve booze during St. Pat's.
Johnson introduced a substitute motion deferring the license suspension until April 1 when the owner said he could go without selling booze for 10 days and only lose $100 thousand.
In other words he changed it so the punishment would not actually punish the bar owner.
Thomas and others vehemently rejected Johnson's 11th hour wimp out, Tony Thomas, Jeff Felser and Mary Osborne voted “NO” opting instead for the tougher penalties.
The Mayor wasn’t there and the rest voted “Yes” passing Johnson's kiss-it-and-make-it-all-better non-punishment solution.
Here are the Aldermen who wimped out and why it seemed to me they voted the way they did.
Larry Stuber – Profit over Precept
Edna Jackson – Afraid to be the deciding vote
Clifton Jones – Claims no one is to blame
Van Johnson – I have no idea what he was thinking
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?
