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Sunday, May 27, 2007

TABC uses shock and awe, warns bars to behave themselves or else

by Avi Adelman of of Barking Dogs

LOWER GREENVILLE — It's the first weekend of the summer, and we all know what that means on Lower Greenville.

Except this year, the scumbars got their hats handed to them early by the TABC. In a pre-emptive strike before the holiday, the bar owners and operators were told:

Keep the noise levels down or you may not get your liquor permit renewed.

Sources on the street tell BD the TABC and DPD called a meeting this past Thursday afternoon of all mixed beverage permit holders (not the little restaurants serving beer and wine only). They were warned that complaints about noise from rooftop patios and other quality of life issues (eg how many drunks are found wandering in the neighborhoods) will be reviewed by TABC, effective immediately.

According to one source, TABC officers passed out a copy of rules covering on-premise promotions, outdoor advertising, sales to intoxicated persons and...

Sec. 101.62. OFFENSIVE NOISE ON PREMISES. No licensee or permittee, on premises under his control, may maintain or permit a radio, television, amplifier, piano, phonograph, music machine, orchestra, band, singer, speaker, entertainer, or other device or person that produces, amplifies, or projects music or other sound that is loud, vociferous, vulgar, indecent, lewd, or otherwise offensive to persons on or near the licensed premises.

The TABC officers told the very attentive crowd they will investigate any complaints regarding noisy patios or bars called in to the Dallas Police Department, the TABC, or neighborhood crime watch, plus any problems observed by their own officers on the street.

The results of these investigations will be forwarded for review at the TABC administrative level and made part of the record when permits come up for annual renewal.

Other sources tell BD the TABC is going to focus on quality of life issues. Translation: How well - or not - the bars behave in consideration of their close proximity to their residential neighbors.

If you want to file a complaint against a bar for noise issues or possible violations of TABC code, the phone number for the Dallas field office is 214-678-4000; the fax number is 214-678-4001.

The TABC also raised the issue of serving people who are already intoxicated. Among the materials passed out at the meeting were reminders that all staff must be TABC-certified (trained to recognize a drunk, not serve minors, etc) and a document called Eleven Steps to Responsible Alcohol Beverage Service, meant to be distributed with copies of the bar's policies and procedures regarding serving intoxicated patrons, measuring drinks, number of drinks served, etc.

Anyone taking bets on which bar misbehaves first, and when???

BarkingDogs.org covers the Lower Greenville Avenue area.

This story was submitted by a member of the Pegasus News community.

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

Billusa99, says:

RE: Anyone taking bets on which bar misbehaves first, and when???

The one you will be standing in front of, with a camera, yelling at the owner and howling at the moon?

Anonymous

2 years, 6 months ago
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Avi Adelman, says:

Now, let's play nice...

I have not howled at anyone ever - unlike a particular scumbar owner who could not hold a note - doggy or otherwise - if his sad life depended on it.

That said, let's sit back and see which scumbar decides to find out if the TABC is really serious about enforcement on Lower Greenville.

Change is coming - and if you don't like it, then maybe you need to move to another place.

I hear Club DMX is looking for some more low-life neighbors just like you.

Avi

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2 years, 6 months ago
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Gavin Mulloy, says:

Avi,

"Change is coming - and if you don't like it, then maybe you need to move to another place."

Why don't you move Avi? Seriously?

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2 years, 6 months ago
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Avi Adelman, says:

Pray tell, why should I (or any other resident) move out of our homes??

What makes you think that a business should have the right to force out residents, or for that fact, vice versa?

Why are my rights to have a quiet home, a safe community, and businesses that obey the law (even the ones they don't like) abrogated just so someone can make a few bucks?

I am not advocating that all the bars close down. Well, maybe one or two but that's a personal issue...

I am advocating that they be forced to accept and follow the laws as applied to them - proper sales ratios, noise control, no serving to drunks, and plenty of free parking.

If they cannot accept those requirements, then they need to close down and find a new business to open.

Avi

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2 years, 6 months ago
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Gavin Mulloy, says:

You are asking for someone else to move when change came, if they don't like it. When what you call Scumbars came in(ie. CHANGE), by your own stated logic, you should have moved if you didn't like it. If you stayed and fought, they shouldn't they as well?

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2 years, 6 months ago
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Sanders Kaufman, says:

Avi - to answer your question about why you should leave your home.

The answer is because you clearly don't like the community in which you live.

It's like those folks in California who choose to live on top of mud mountains, and then demand that the government shore up their houses.

I honestly believe that if your neighborhood were to suddenly become the Brady Bunch fantasy you seem to want it to be - that you would move out and find some other place where you can complain about your neighbors.

It's just who you are, man.

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2 years, 6 months ago
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Dylan Cave, says:

This is why I am a confirmed renter. I pay substantially less per year in taxes, and when the surroundings are not to my liking; I can move easily.

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2 years, 6 months ago
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Avi Adelman, says:

There is no reason for ANYONE to move - and I seriously doubt you could convince a whole neighborhood of 1,500 people to move away just because a bar moved in.

Better idea - Obey the laws. Have each business get the proper zoning, certificate of occupancy, licenses etc. If you don't have them, then you should not be allowed to open your doors for anyone.

The problem is that most of the businesses in this area are in violation of the Certificates of Occupancy; thankfully the City is slowly going through all the paperwork and seeing how these so-called restaurants are really bars without kitchens.

It will take a while, but change - and closures - are coming very soon to the scumbars.

Patience my friend, sit back and enjoy the show!

ASA

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2 years, 6 months ago
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Sanders Kaufman, says:

Actually, there are LOTS of reasons for people to move - and they do so quite frequently.

In fact, as my neighborhood becomes more and more hispanic, several of the rednecks have begun getting their homes ready for sale - because they don't want to live around Mexicans.

Your community, Avi, has decided that they WANT those bars to be there. There's just you and a small but vocal minority who don't.

I think you will find that for your small, little gains in getting enforcement - the real change will come as the zoning laws are changed to reflect the community standards.