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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2009
LAWRENCE
Chance Dibben/KANSAN
While the Lawrence City Commission cites non-compliance with zoning laws for their move to close the 821 Club, located at 9th and Iowa Streets, some, including club consultant Rich Blackmon say the action is motivated by racial discrimination.
City moves to close 821 night club
BY DYLAN SANDS
dsands@kansan.com
The Lawrence City Commission is taking steps to close a nightclub located at a site with a history of violent disturbances. The 821 Club, located at 9th and Iowa Streets, is the latest club to inhabit the building.
Lawrence police arrested three men July 5 in connection with a shooting outside the club. Another shooting happened at the same location in March, when it was under different ownership and called Club Axis.
Mayor Rob Chestnut said the city's move to shut down the nightclub stemmed from the club's failure to comply with zoning requirements. He said that the building was currently zoned for a restaurant or bar, but that its use as a nightclub involved more occupancy. He said changes needed to be made to the club's parking lot and surrounding areas to bring it up to code.
"This is not a situation where the City Commission is trying to shut the place down for no reason." Chestnut
said. "It's the natural progress of them not responding to violations."
Chestnut said that he was aware of the site's history and the recent shooting, but that the city was focusing on the code violations for now.
"They're two different issues. They clearly have a code violation, but the crime issues certainly call more attention to it," Chestnut said. "They need to address these issues and address them rapidly, or we will be pursuing closing them down."
Rich Blackmon, a consultant for 821 Club, said he thought the city's move to close the club was motivated by racial discrimination. He said that the club catered to the small population of black students at the University and that if it was shut down, those students would have nowhere to go.
"It's not a black and white thing with us, because we let everyone in," Blackmon said. "But with the city, it's obviously a black and white thing."
Blackmon said the owners of the 821 Club were aware of the reputation of the building and had created rules to cut back on violent incidents. He said the club had created a dress code and capacity rules in an effort to reduce violence. He said the owners were working to change the perception of the club and to become more inclusive to give black students a place to enjoy themselves safely.
"We play black people's music and we're the only club that caters to black people," Blackmon said. "It's hard enough for us to be in this town and feel comfortable, so most of us just want to go somewhere and have a good time like everyone else."
Mike White, former student and employee of 821 Club, said most violence occurred only in the parking lot of the club among people who had been denied entry. He said the club had been doing everything it could to prevent violence without discriminating against patrons.
"We are the only place in town that caters to hip-hop." White said. "There is probably nowhere else to go that doesn't discriminate the hip-hop image."
Toni Wheeler, director of legal services for the City of Lawrence,
said the city was working to enforce a court judgement against the club citing zoning violations including lack of adequate parking.
"This action is not related to a criminal context." Wheeler said.
She added that the city was worried about disturbances at the site and could possibly ask the Kansas Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control to revoke the club's liquor license. The city made a similar request to the ABC to shut down a downtown bar, Last Call, last year.
"We continue to be concerned about safety in all drinking establishments and we may pursue that remedy if necessary." Wheeler said.
ChestnutsaidtheCityCommission would also keep an eye on the situation to see whether asking the ABC to revoke the liquor license would be needed.
"That's exactly what happened with Last Call," he said. "We haven't pursued that, but that's not to say we wouldn't go down that path."
Edited by David Ugarte
LAW (CONTINUED FROM 31)
Captain Tim Hull, Missouri Highway Patrol trooper said the left lane law had been actively enforced in Missouri since he started in 1983. Hull said the Missouri Highway Patrol made 890 citations for the left lane law in 2007. He said the left lane law not only decongested traffic, it also allowed safer conditions for officers and emergency vehicles.
"If you've got people just driving along there in the left lane sometimes it creates a hazard for us trying to overtake another vehicle." Hull said.
Hull said it was important that the law be publicized for people to follow it.
"It would probably take a pretty big public education program or media campaign to get everybody educated on it." Hull said. "That's something you have to do."
Mark Engholm, Kansas Highway Patrol trooper, said the law was important because highways were designed to move large amounts of traffic down the road.
"When we have more than one lane of traffic," Engholm said, "traffic should be able to pass efficiently and we haven't really had that happen."
Engholm said that the purpose of the left lane was to allow faster traffic to pass and that if drivers were moving slowly in that lane, it defeated the purpose of a two-lane highway.
He said that because of these problems with congestion, the state had to enact several laws that he considered common sense laws, including this one.
Another law Engholm gave as an example was the law about moving over for emergency vehicles on the shoulder of the road.
"That would seem kind of a common courtesy and a safety deal," he said. "But here we are having to write laws."
Engholm said the Kansas Highway Patrol was already pulling over drivers who violated the law to educate them about its purpose.
Engholm said he knew there would be a campaign to advertise the change in enforcement, but wasn't sure how much would be done because of budget concerns. He said the Kansas Department of Transporation had been discussing putting up signs along the highway.
- Edited by Adam Schoof
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