Mayor Nancy Vaughan has scheduled two virtual town hall meetings to discuss what is being called a “safety/security ordinance.”
The virtual meetings will be held Monday, April 26 from 2 to 3 p.m. and Monday, May 10 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Although it is now being called a “safety/security ordinance” there is, according to Vaughan, no proposed ordinance, but the proposal is similar to the restaurant and bar ordinance that was proposed by Vaughan in response to the record breaking number of homicides in 2020.
That proposed ordinance was discussed in general terms by the City Council at a work session on Jan. 5, 2021 and would apply to all businesses that had a license for onsite alcohol consumption.
These town hall meetings are in response to the stabbings that took place at Tranquilo Bar and Restaurant on April 11. Tranquilo has since had its alcohol license suspended by the ABC Board.
After the stabbings at Tranquilo, Vaughan on her Facebook page posted, “This is a public safety issue. I’m going to move forward with the proposed public hearings to get the input from stakeholders. That means anyone who has an interest in this ordinance (owners, promoters, patrons, law enforcement or the general public.)”
The ordinance previously proposed by Vaughan would require businesses that had onsite alcohol consumption licenses to hire security guards if a homicide, aggravated assault or robbery with a dangerous weapon occurred anywhere on their premises, including parking lots utilized by the patrons of the business.
When the ordinance was being discussed earlier this year as a response to the 61 homicides in 2020, City Councilmember Marikay Abuzuaiter pointed out that only two of those homicides occurred at businesses that would be covered by the proposed ordinance.
The city was also threatened with a lawsuit from an attorney representing a number of restaurants.
To sign up for the April 26 meeting you can use this link: April 26 Zoom .
And for the May 10 meeting: May 10 Zoom .
Yeah, have another meeting and dance around the real problem – uncuff the Police Department’s hands and let them do their jobs.
For future meetings, maybe you should address the lack of parenting skills throughout the city. If parents did their jobs, the police wouldn’t have to.
Here we go again. Her Majesty seeks to stand on the necks of small business groups. One business creates a nuisance so OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!
I thought Yvonne was taking care of this! Essentially, you’ve tied the hands of the police to the point that they can’t police. What the hell do you expect.
Would this ordinance cover the Performance Arts Boondoggle parking area and Lebauer park where city trained and employed police comitted homicide? Or City run venues like the Coliseum that has hosted plenty of foul play overy the years (SuperJams?) Would it stop dangerous house parties with unsupervised teens and alcohol? Would it prevent folks from speeding around town with illegally purchased and illegally concealed weapons?
Why even go thru this farse. Anyone with any common sense KNOWS what’s happening in Greensboro. I’d even extend that to the commissioners of Guildford County. Damn….you GET what you VOTE for.
Everything, except usable numbers… how many of these crimes of each type have there been, how many associated with on premises consumption, and what experience has been had with security preventing these crimes in other places?
And we might ask Tranquilo’s owners, too: Rather lose your license or hire security? Would security have made a difference?
I agree that this seems like punishing businesses and putting a sin tax of bars and restaurants by making hire more staff. However I don’t see how the police are restrained here or how they even play into the issue or how they are restrained in their role. Could someone explain that to me?