1 big vote here. City Council: please listen to the citizens speaking, (not just the ones that have the luxury/ intestinal fortitude of going to city council meetings) and do the right thing. Thank you!

I am saddened that someone lost their life. I am even more saddened that the City of Oakland hasn't shown the willingness to shut down this trouble spot. Why not?

Club Anton has been quite disruptive to this neighborhood, especially with all the noise. A shooting can, unfortunately, occur at any establishment in JLS. But given the totality of problems with this club, if this shooting isn't the nail in their coffin, I'm not sure what else it is going to take.

Please shut down Club Anton and help stop the cycle of violence in Oakland.

Please shut Club Anton down, murder, shootings, continuous violent fights EVERY weekend. Enough is enough this place is dangerous.

Please shut down this club. It is a constant place of disruption, violence and problems.

This club MUST SHUT DOWN! It is an absolutely disgrace. The last thing we should be doing is allowing a club that is known for violence to serve alcohol. At the very least, their liquor license should be revoked!

In addition to my comment, what I am dumbfounded by is that the very next day after the shooting, the club opened its doors once again. It seems to thrive off of the violence and crime that it brings to our neighborhood. If this had happened in any establishment in San Francisco, they would at least be shut down for several weeks - if not months - and the City would hear the voices of the people. Oakland needs to wake up and take action!

Club Anton should be shut down. their continued disregard for public safty shows that they have no respect for anybody. OPD and Lynette's office needs to take action now.

There are people living in this neighborhood now, it's not the depopulated warehouse area that it used to be. Things change and Oakland's decision regarding Anton's must reflect this change. JLS residents don't mind the responsible clubs in the area that are vital and neighborly (so far, the Night Light seems to be one of the good-guys, for example), but places like Anton's are a blight and need to go.

Our councilmember for District 3 is Lynette Gibson McElhaney. Email her at D3Intern@oaklandnet.com, contact her through facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lynettemcelhaney?fref=ts

City of Oakland Public Works Agency referred this issue to NUISANCE, ABATEMENT service request # 478376. Please contact that agency to follow-up. For more information, please visit the "Helpful Links to Other Resource Partners" at the link below.
http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/PWA/Connect/ReportaProblem/index.htm
Thank you.

Yes: shut this club down now.

This club needs to be shut down immediately. It's not only a nuisance but a very dangerous establishment that has no regard for the safety of the local residents.

I would like to see a version of stop and frisk in Oakland. Individuals with guns in our neighborhood will inevitably lead to tragedy.

I wrote Nancy Marcus (nmarcus@oaklandnet.com in the City Administration offices). Her response follows. I strongly urge everyone to write to Nancy as those citizen emails will be provided to the Deputy City Administrator at the hearing; the more people that write, the more our voices will be heard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Deputy City Administrator will be meeting with Cpt. Lewis., and Sgt. Espinoza and Officer Sena of ABAT. Officer Sena has also requested a copy of the calls of service for Club Anton. Officer Sena has sent over the report to the ABC office and will be the liaison with them.

They will then meet with the owner of Club Anton to discuss the incident.

Thanks for your input on the situation and I will print your email for the Deputy City Administrator for the meeting.

Nancy Marcus
Special Business Permits
Office of the City Administrator
1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza – 11th Fl.
Oakland, CA 94612
510-238-3294
510-238-7084 (fax)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For accuracy, please delete from original report the phrase "involving Club Anton customers" following "a prior shooting" since report not confirmed that Club Anton customers were the ones in the 2010 or 2012 neighborhood shootings.

I've received an email from Mrs. Nancy Marcus stating that Cpt. Lewis served Club Anton with an immediate suspension notice, and a revocation hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 17th @10am in Hearing Room 1 at City Hall. She has encouraged all concerned civilians interested in speaking at the hearing to attend. All emails she has received are included in the revocation hearing documents.

I also wrote to Nancy Marcus, why devalue Jack London Square and endanger the local community with this awful place. This Club needs to be closed down.

I also wrote to Nancy Marcus, why devalue Jack London Square and endanger the local community with this awful place. This Club needs to be closed down.

I sent a letter to Nancy Marcus today supporting the closure of this club.

This is great news. While no guarantee that their liquor license will be revoked, it is a step in the right direction. Thanks everyone.

Latest from Nancy Marcus (nmarcus@oaklandnet.com). Please write her if you haven't already. I'll post updates as I get them.

Jeff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is to let you know that the revocation hearing scheduled for September 17th for Club Anton, 428 3rd St. , has been postponed. The suspension of Cabaret activity will remain until the revocation hearing takes place. I will keep you posted as to when the hearing is rescheduled.

Thank you,

Nancy Marcus
Special Business Permits
Office of the City Administrator
1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza – 11th Fl.
Oakland, CA 94612
510-238-3294
510-238-7084 (fax)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeff A.--Thanks for keeping us up to date on this.

These idiots charged a tip to my credit card a couple of years ago In 2008. I have not been back since. The customer service is very poor. A friend of mine threw a party there one winter in November 2008. These idiots had everyone waiting outside in the cold. As recently as 2010 I hear that right in the middle of a party they turned the power off & a fight ensued. People were badly hurt. Now a death...yup shut it down.

It appears that the Club and City representatives may be negotiating conditions to keep the Club open (otherwise, why the suspended revocation hearing with respect to the cabaret license with no rescheduling?). Does anyone have an update on either this (the cabaret license revocation) or the petition to the State to revoke the liquor license (a separate matter)?

I wrote Nancy Marcus (nmarcus@oaklandnet.com) in the City Administration offices (contact info below) asking for an update and will post when I hear a response.

Jeff
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nancy Marcus
Special Business Permits
Office of the City Administrator
1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza – 11th Fl.
Oakland, CA 94612
nmarcus@oaklandnet.com
510-238-3294
510-238-7084 (fax)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Update from Nancy Marcus today:

"There is a meeting scheduled next week with Club Anton and their attorney, ABAT, Special Events, Cpt. Lewis, Eli Ferran (City Attorney) and Arturo Sanchez. Will keep you informed of any updates.

Thanks,

Nancy Marcus
Special Business Permits
Office of the City Administrator
1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza – 11th Fl.
Oakland, CA 94612
510-238-3294
510-238-7084 (fax)

City offices will be closed November 11, 2013"

Can you please email me a date of the meeting and time of the hearing. I am the mother of the young man that was shot on aug. 31. My email is victoriatyler68@gmail.com . Please keep me posted

Hello Victoria - I am very sorry for your loss. Please contact Nancy Marcus at the following. She has the most current information:
Nancy Marcus
Special Business Permits
Office of the City Administrator
1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza – 11th Fl.
Oakland, CA 94612
nmarcus@oaklandnet.com
510-238-3294
510-238-7084 (fax)

Hi Jeff
Got your reply and called Nancy today. Found out the owner of Anton meet with city concil today with there lawyer to work stuff out. She told us to call back in a day or so and she should be able to tell me the result of the meet.

I believe the club may be close to a full shut down. Last night, we watched people on the roof take down the main sign above the canopy of the building. Has anyone heard the results of the meeting with the City? Could it be true?

I received the following today from Nancy Marcus (NMarcus@oaklandnet.com):

"I heard today that Club Anton has surrendered their cabaret permit. You will be receiving an email with details of the outcome of the meeting that took place.


Nancy Marcus
Special Business Permits
Office of the City Administrator
1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza – 11th Fl.
Oakland, CA 94612
510-238-3294
510-238-7084 (fax)"

Thanks Jeff

Just an FYI: Nancy Marcus also informed me that Club Anton still possesses their Liquor License. Their Cabaret licence will be surrendered but that may not mean their doors will be permanently shut. Apparently we will find out what Club Anton will be allowed to do with the space when the explanation comes from the Deputy City Administrator. This may not be over just yet...

Club Anton's liquor license is still active. The club will re-open under a different name if we don't complain to the ABC.

I have also filled out a complaint form here with CA ABC board and mailed it in. You all might want to do the same.

http://www.abc.ca.gov/datport/LQSData.asp?ID=19420355

http://www.abc.ca.gov/FORMS/ABC099E.pdf

I have, once again, written to Nancy Marcus and now Zac Wald, Council member Lynette Lynette McElhaney's Chief of Staff (510.238.7032, ZWald@oaklandnet.com) expressing my concern about recent club operations disrupting the neighborhood and that we weren't invited to the license hearing. I'll post more when I get a response.

Response from Arturo Sanchez, Deputy City Administrator (asanchez@oaklandnet.com):

The best outcome of a hearing on the cabaret (based on past history with administrative hearing officers) would have been conditions on the operation. The hearing would not have affected the alcohol license as this is controlled by the state and not the City.

With this in mind, if the City is able to negotiate the closure of a cabaret operation through a voluntary surrender of license (a much stronger result than we could have hoped for in hearing process), then we would pursue that result. Again as with a hearing the surrender of cabaret permit does not impact the alcohol license because this is controlled by the state.

The cessation or surrender of cabaret does not impact the ability of the operator to operate lawful business's as allowed by our zoning laws that do not require a special permit for the city. Examples of this include: restaurants, cafés, and other business's which can include alcohol because they have alcohol license from state.

Keep in mind a cabaret for the city means:

1. A location that is open to public, serves alcohol, provides entertainment AND charges at the door for entry. OR

2. A location that is open to public, serves alcohol, allows dancing, and is open past 11.

From Nancy Wald:

Arturo Sandoval's comments + links to forms for nuisance and alcohol licenses

From Arturo Sanchez, Deputy City Administrator:

The best outcome of a hearing on the cabaret (based on past history with administrative hearing officers) would have been conditions on the operation. The hearing would not have affected the alcohol license as this is controlled by the state and not the City.

With this in mind if the City is able to negotiate the closure of a cabaret operation through a voluntary surrender of license (a much stronger result than we could have hoped for in hearing process) then we would pursue that result. Again as with a hearing the surrender of cabaret permit does not impact the alcohol license because this is controlled by the state.

The cessation or surrender of cabaret does not impact the ability of the operator to operate lawful business's as allowed by our zoning laws that do not require a special permit for the city. Examples of this include: restaurants, cafés, and other business's which can include alcohol because they have alcohol license from state.

Keep in mind a cabaret for the city means:

1. A location that is open to public, serves alcohol, provides entertainment AND charges at the door for entry. OR

2. A location that is open to public, serves alcohol, allows dancing, and is open past 11.

http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/CityAdministration/d/NA/index.htm (for nuisance complaints)

Note: For nuisance the link doesn't take you to exactly to the document, but gives you the directions on how to do the complaint.

http://www.abc.ca.gov/forms/PDFCompl.html (for alcohol licenses complaints)

I have stopped by and noticed there is construction work going on inside. They served food from La Furia Chalaca when operating under the name Club Anton. My best guess is that they will open and utilize them again under a different name serving food and cater to the same crowd as before. I hope you all act now before it's too late. For some reason Club Anton's liquor license has not been revoked (see link below). What does it take get one's liquor license revoked? The neighborhood has been much more peaceful without them operating over the past few months. Let's try and keep it that way.

I have also filled out a complaint form here with CA ABC board and mailed it in. You all might want to do the same.

http://www.abc.ca.gov/datport/LQSData.asp?ID=19420355

http://www.abc.ca.gov/FORMS/ABC099E.pdf

I just filled out a complaint as well and will mail it this weekend.

I've also filled one out and will mail in. I hope everyone does this.

Dose anyone the name or what type of business Club Anton was before it was Anton? How long has this been a problem

Looks like we lost the battle with City Hall and the ABC. I took a picture of this on their door this morning. I guess that we'll get to enjoy "private" parties now with the same crowds that showed up for dh's and cd release party's.

Let's get to the truth here, when you talk about "type" of crowds, you mean African Americans. There were never any complaints about Club Anton other than noise and that was from the so called "upper class" neighbors across the street.

I have patronized Club Anton for the last 3 years and I can testify to the fact that the only nights the police were called was when there was a hip hop event. The reason they did nothing, is because the accusations were FALSE.

So I'm calling on all the friends of Club Anton, those friends from all DIVERSE backgrounds, to write to the City with the TRUTH.

Actually M. Todd, the majority of the people in the club the night of this particular incident were Latino or White, so I/we do not mean African Americans. The "type" of crowd I am referring to is the crowd that congregates outside, sells drugs, urinates on adjacent buildings and vehicles, and creates an entirely unsafe environment for the residents and patrons of JLS. I do not believe this has anything to do with African Americans, so please do not label an entire community is racist just because you have an agenda. Also, the club reopened the night after the shooting occurred. One night later and the doors were open for business. How anyone can consider this anything less than disgusting is a mystery to me.
As far as previous accusation being "false", there have been multiple complaints about this club, most often pertaining to excessive noise which actually shakes nearby buildings. There is at least 2+ years of documented evidence of this, in addition to other complaints. At one point they actually had a manager that came into the building and heard the noise for herself, and for a period of time that issue got better. The residents of Jack London Square are more than willing to work with respectable businesses to make the neighborhood a safe, fun, and diverse area to congregate, but when we fail, as a community, to stand up to businesses that show utter disregard for the safety and well-being of the neighborhood, then we silently allow the chaos they create. I hope people will see this as more than just an isolates incident and shut this place down. They've repeatedly shown in their behavior that they don't care about the neighborhood in which they operate and it's time to go.

How do you know for a fact that it was only few times that the police was called? And where you there on all those nites they were called? Not to judge, only asking

Todd,

The truth is that Nathaniel Brown was killed in Club Anton. It's not a race related issue regardless of what you think. Facts are facts.

Here are some facts Joe,
This club has been there for over 7 years and has flourished because of the owner's ability to keep eveything respectful and under control.The night you are referring to was was not predominately latino or white as I was there.Furthermore, This club has always promoted a broad multicultural venue for performers and the only complaints are from what is obviously your building. Its businesses like this one that keeps Jack London alive and thriving. And Tyler, I can attest to what an officer told me when I was standing outside and they showed up, they said that someone annonymous always called and complained about the noise and they had been there twice before on the same night which was a Wednesday and you can't hear music from outside.

Sorry sir, you are mistaken. I watched from my apartment as people filed out of the club after the shooting, and actually saw people firing a gun off.. If you were in the club that night, then you likely know it was not that busy, which means people likely know who the shooter was. The majority were not, in fact, African American. Perhaps you should spend your energy talking to the police so that they can solve this crime rather than attacking people residing in the area who want to keep the neighborhood safe.
Furthermore, this club promotes chaos and crime in the neighborhood. I do not know how much more evidence you need of this than a shooting that happened directly inside the club, to which their response was to reopen the doors the following evening. Do you seriously think people are going to buy that this is a respectable establishment based on these facts? Let's get real here and encourage businesses to come into the neighborhood that LEGITIMATELY promotes a multicultural environment which lacks violence and disrespect for the community and its own patrons.

I spend my energy where I see an injustice. I have worked in that area, 401 Broadway to be exact for 25 years. I have attended Holiday parties and retirement parties at Club Anton, the place is beautiful and taking a tragic incident that occured, that could happen anywhere at any time and using it to move your agenda is something you will have to carry. I was not there when the shooting occured because I left as there were not many people, but I have heard from people who were there how things happened. And yes it is a very respectable place run by respectable people who should not be judged because of the actions of others.

As for a predominently white or latino crowd, that is a flat out untruth.

This has nothing to do with race. This has to do with a club that is a serious disruption to the neighborhood. There have been repeated complaints of excessive noise, fighting, suspected drug dealing, and public urination.

There was a shooting the week before in front of the Oakland Grill. With all of this effert you should shut them down as well if what you are posting is true and by the time your done you will have nothing around but empty buildings.

If Oakland Grill was playing loud music, after 10pm, and didn't attempt to control their patrons behavior, then there would be complaints filed about them as well. The shooting at Club Anton was the culmination of a long list of complaints about excessive noise, fighting, suspected drug dealing, and public urination.
The owners of Club Anton have the right to run a legitimate business that complies with all laws and regulations. As long as they do that, there won't be complaints.

M. Todd: though you may have worked in the neighborhood for the previous 25 years, Club Anton was only recently opened (whether a reopening or re-branded opening I am unclear) just a few months after moving into the building directly across the street from the space. Not only that, neighborhoods are ever-changing urban environments and I am sure you can agree that Jack London Square has been flourishing over the last few years, more than it ever has been in the past few decades.

Club Anton has been a total nuisance with excessive noise, causing several residents in our building sleep deprivation and even headaches - along with patrons blocking our driveway during these 'respectable' events you speak of. As a large residential building, we understand and respect the Urban environment that surrounds us however, when an owner fails to respect the people who reside next to them, the lack of respect due to them is little to none.

This fatal shooting was in fact, not the first time in the previous two years that safety has become a threat to the residents in our neighborhood, because of the patrons being attracted to Club Anton. This is NOT about race - but about safety and a disregard thereof, brought on by the owner of Club Anton. To re-open the club the NIGHT AFTER a fatal shooting occurred inside of its doors is beyond disrespectful. To the family members of the loved one lost, I can't imagine how they must have felt by the actions of Club Anton to proceed with a 'business as usual' attitude, less than 24 hours after someone was fatally shot in the club.

Stop making this about race - this is about Club Anton continuing to fail to be a respectful business in our neighborhood. Watching several patrons run out of the Club in the early hours of the morning, screaming for their own safety - and then watching the aftermath spill onto our own street - and a gun being fired - is NOT creating a safe environment that people in Jack London would want to call their home.

Jack London is flourishing because of the respectful business - bars and restaurants alike - that have opened in the past couple of years. These businesses do well because the residents and patrons are respectful to one another. Club Anton has continued to disrespect its patrons, its neighbors and the City of Oakland. And their guilt is clear: a self-surrender of their Cabaret license shows that they are responsible and SHOULD be held responsible for this tragedy.

M. Todd,

First you say you weren't there, then you say you were there and I wasn't. I guess we'll leave everything up to a jury in civil court against Nathaniel Brown's family vs. Carlos Anton. Even if he wants reopen a neighborhood that he doesn't live, I bet his insurance makes unfeasible. By the way, nobody on this forum brought up race, only you. Take a look in the mirror.

I have been going to Club Anton for more than a year now (for salsa parties and others) and have to join the people who say that this place is a multi-cultural treasure for Oakland that needs to be protected. Never once have I seen or heard any violence, public urination, bad crowds, or any of the things some people here are talking about. In fact, about six months ago I went to the Club when there was a party (some sort of rap thing) and they were CLOSING IT DOWN a little before midnight. Why? Because one of the guests at the party had apparently lit a joint. I was amazed and very (pleasantly) surprised. Really... what club owner in the Bay Area would you find that would close two hours early on a night when they can make a ton of money just because someone inside has lit a joint? Kick that person out, yes of course, but close the whole place down, no way. Turns out the owner has an absolute no tolerance policy on drugs of any sort or excessive drinking. So I don't buy any of the accusations you are throwing around. Everything I have ever seen at Club Anton's suggests to me that they are as someone else already said an eminently respectable business.

As far as blaming Club Anton for somehow bringing crime to the area, you have no basis whatsoever for saying that. If you go to do a search on the City of Oakland crimes, you will find that between January 1, 2012 and September 13 2013 there were 27 crimes within a few block radius of the Club. (burglaries, assault, car theft, robbery, theft), etc.

Of those 27 crimes, only 7 happened during night time hours when the Club would likely have been open. And three of those seven happened on a sunday,monday, or tuesday night when the club would have likely been closed. (You'd have to check with the owner whether it was). So, basically, 4 out of 27 crimes happening at night time hours when the club might have been operating means there is absolutely no correlation whatsoever between crime in the nieghborhood and the people Club Anton's might be bringing here. Statistically, Domino's pizza is more likely to be responsible for the crime than Club Anton's is.

Get real. You live in downtown Oakland. Sadly, there is crime here. Look at the maps and check out how many shootings we have. (There were 131 murders in oakland last year, 82 so far this year) It's a rampant problem, but that is not the fault of any business in particular. Club Anton's IS a respectful business and moreover it is a place that gives a broad range of people something fun and safe to do at night. There was a very unfortunate incident in that club, as there have been in many other places in town. You may not like the looks of the people who go there but that is your problem and that does not justify trying to shut the place down.

Instead of talking about how disrespecful the owner of Club Anton's is, why don't you try to get to know him and the other members of his family that work there? He is actually a very nice man who runs a family establishment trying to do the best for Oakland. If you don't like living in a multicultural urban environment, then you should move.

Kristina - Just because you haven't observed noise violations, violence, public urination, etc. doesn't mean that those things haven't occurred. They have. The crime stats don't show how many times people have called to complain. As for the "looks of the people who go there" - once again, this isn't about race. This about the owner unable or unwilling to do something about an unsafe environment that culminated in a killing inside the club and long pattern of disrespecting its patrons, its neighbors and the City of Oakland. The owners of Club Anton have the right to run a legitimate business that complies with all laws and regulations. As long as they do that, there won't be complaints.

Kristina,
The "people" you refer to are yourself and one other who, by your own admissions, have been to club Anton a handful of times over the course of years. Hardly an accurate portrayal of week to week operations.
Let's be clear, there was a person MURDERED inside the club and they reopened the NEXT day! Those are facts, not opinions of a select few. I don't know what standards of safety you consider appropriate in YOUR neighborhood, but in mine I only need to see this once to take action! Your reasoning that because this is Oakland, so we should all accept this as a condition of living here and just look the other way is preposterous and highlights the ingrained toxic attitudes that keep this horrible cycle of violence in this city going strong. I personally have no issue with the way people look. My issue is the behaviors they engage in outside my front door! Your further assumptions that residents and other businesses in the neighborhood have NOT tried to reach out the the owner is nothing less of ill informed.
Thank you for the annual crime report. As an expert, you must know you multiply those numbers by 10 to account for the crimes not reported, responded to, or witnessed. Even at your smallest estimation, I'm not going to be complacent about it.
Oakland and JLS are changing for the better. Get on board or get out.

What people such as Kristina & M.Todd are failing to see is the simple fact that a man was murdered inside the club and in less than 24 hours, this "respected" club owner & family man re-opened his doors as if nothing happened the night before. If that isn't evidence enough of a disrespectful man, I don't know what is. My heart goes out to the family and friends of the man murdered and the lack of respect that was given to him and the patrons of Club Anton.

1) You say they have the right to run a business that complies with all laws and regulations. That's true. Do you have any proof that they are not? Have there been any violations or citations that they have been held responsible for? If so, for what and when?
2) You say lots of people have filed complaints and have been ignored. Do you have any record of that? When and how? If not, you should be talking to the owners, not dissing them behind their back.
3) You talk about them being disrespectful by hosting a party the day after the shooting. I have no idea what kind of party they might have had but did it ever occur to you that they might not have had a choice? Usually, people sign contracts for renting spaces. I know that if I had rented a space for a party and the owner of the location canceled on me the day of, I would be FURIOUS unless the cops had forced him to do so. (And I would probably have sued in turn.) Should someone else have to suffer too because of the unfortunate incident? None of us in the neighborhood were actually hurt. But you want the Club to have cancelled someone else's party to be respectful? That's absurd.

To me this seems like a classic case of people making assumptions, not having any actual data to back up their accusations, and not having the maturity to try to work out a problem in person. As far as I can tell, the guy who owns the club, his mom (who runs the kitchen) and his dad (who works in the club) are all very, very nice people. Give them a break. It wasn't their fault that this happened.

Has anyone ever thought that the city of Oakland may have encourage the owner to go on with business as usaul? Unfortunatly there are shootings in Oakland almost on a daily basis! "Just turn on the channel 2 news." It's quite concerning.

Has anyone who lives in the neighborhood ever thought of speaking to the owner directly with their concerns?. I see lots of concerns and compliants made to the City of Oakland, but not to the business owner himself??

OK, I will reattempt to make this crystal clear. To address the last 2 posts:

(1 & 2) Katrina - yes, there is documented proof and evidence that this business has repeatedly violated laws, rules, and regulations, many of which have been ongoing noise and nuisance violations. I can only speak to my time in the neighborhood, but we literally have a spreadsheet that dates back 2.5 years of ongoing issues and infractions, as well as all of the actions that had been taken on each occasion to address these issues. If you'd like a copy it can be emailed to ease your fury over the assumption that we're all a bunch of no-good losers who are targeting this poor, innocent business for no apparent reason, other than to take time away from earning a living. Further, I think it says a LOT that the club owner voluntarily gave up his cabaret license. There HAVE been MULTIPLE attempts to work with this business owner and his management. There was one instance where a manager could be reached and she was helpful on ONE occasion and then disappeared. I do not know if she just left the job or refused to return correspondence. But, the assumption that all of these people are just a bunch of whining complainers who have made no attempts to resolve ongoing issues in a diplomatic way is absurd.

(3) I understand your point that the owner MAY have had a contract. I think, as a respectable business, I likely would have contacted the people who I had said contract with and said something along the lines of: "Someone was murdered in our facility last night, so I apologize but we need to cancel any events for the time being." I literally can not even imagine they had time to clean up the crime scene! Not to mention, when a murder happens, there is a lot of volatility that needs to be addressed before just reopening your doors and subjecting the entire community to any backlash that could occur. Had someone been killed the following night in retaliation, or an innocent bystander, as a result of the owner carelessly reopening his doors, I assure you he would have a MUCH bigger lawsuit on his hands than a canceled contract claim. It is a matter of values and priorities. His actions show that he prioritizes cash over safety, and I can not get on board with that. Further, it was an unfortunate incident, but it was not random. From over 2 years of witnessing this clubs operation, anyone who was actually paying attention was NOT surprised by this. It merely reassured us all of what we knew all along and triggered people to take action.

I'm also happy the owner of the club, his son, and his mother are all good cooks. None of that changes any of the facts. At best, they have extremely poor judgment and are incredibly naive. At worst, they know this and simply do not care. Either way you slice it, they are unsafe for the community at large. It may not have been their fault this happened (i.e., they did not physically pull the trigger), but they have repeatedly created an environment that would increase the likelihood of this happening, and that it will happen again under their management. That can not be tolerated.

Finally, Sharon, the argument that shootings happen on a daily basis in Oakland as a basis for ignoring the problem is very primitive and short-sighted. A lot of things happen all the time that we should not be complacent about. So, if your attitude is "well, people always get shot so shoot back or look the other way" then you're part of the problem. To reiterate, YES, people in the neighborhood have repeatedly tried to connect with this owner and his management. They have been entirely uncooperative.

I'd also like to point out that, as a business owner, if something like this occurs, perhaps HE would want to be the proactive one and reach out to his neighbors to reach a common goal and resolution. If it were my business and there were ongoing and repeated complaints, I think I would take it upon myself to work with the community rather than waiting for them to become so fed up and frustrated with me that they shut me down. YOU are responsible for running YOUR OWN business in a safe and legal manner. It is not my responsibility to patronize and coddle you so that you do the right thing. Our collective diplomatic efforts have been a courtesy and gesture of good will in trying to include this business in the community. He has consistently demonstrated his lack of interest in these efforts. So now, after the fact, I'm no longer interested.

Interesting. Carlos Anton owns the restaurant La Furia Chalaca around the corner. Wonder if he is also the owner of the new Asian Club that is open until 2am serving alcohol. The new Asian place is already serving alcohol and I can't find their license online.

La Furia Chalaca
http://www.abc.ca.gov/datport/LQSData.asp?ID=19405333

The new restaurant is "Dragon Gate" It appears to have different ownership -
DRAGON GATE LOUNGE & GRILL
http://www.abc.ca.gov/datport/LQSdata.asp?ID=73516137

Regarding Dragon Gate - I have been told that the owners are attempting to do something about the dumpsters in the crosswalk at 3rd and Broadway in front of their business. These apparently belong to Domino's (local franchise) and they are not doing anything about moving them. I and others have filed a complaint with Oakland Code Violations as the dumpsters are a traffic and pedestrian hazard. Please vote on getting this issue resolved:
"Dumpsters Constantly In Crosswalk " http://seeclickfix.com/issues/882394

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