Monday, October 8, 2007
News Rumble at the county commission!
Posted by Scott Henry @ScottTheHenry on Mon, Oct 8, 2007 at 7:50 PM
It didn't take long for the issue of race to arrive front and center in the discussion over earlier bar hours in DeKalb.
Recall that late last month, Commissioner Jeff Rader complained that a spate of new nightclubs were coming to DeKalb to escape the 2:30 a.m. last call imposed by the city of Atlanta. Rader introduced an ordinance — which could be voted on as early as tomorrow's commission meeting — to roll bar hours back from 3:55 a.m. to 2 a.m. weeknights, and until 12:30 a.m. Saturday nights.
So, last week, a half-page ad appeared in the pages of CL (page 15 in most areas, to be exact) featuring a photo of Rader next to the claim: "This commissioner does not want African American night clubs in DeKalb County."
Well, of course, Rader never said anything like that, but it is true that most of the newer, larger nightclubs in DeKalb — such as the Velvet Room and Jermaine Dupri’s Studio 72 — are black-owned or target a black clientele.
The ad pours fuel on the fire by suggesting that closing bars earlier will result in a county deficit that will require raising property taxes. It ends by urging opponents to attend Tuesday's commission meeting.
But wait. The late-drinkers aren't the only folks likely to show up at the Manuel Maloof Auditorium. Rader is trying to stir supporters of earlier bar hours to come out in force. And newly Republicanized state Rep. Mike Jacobs has sent out an e-newsletter headlined: "Take action to curb nightclub influx." He warns that DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones has threatened a veto of Rader's bill. And, indeed, just last week, Jones told CL he thought the proposed rollback was an ill-considered attack on the county's efforts to expand its tax base. He didn't, however, say he believed it was racially motivated.
Tomorrow's meeting begins at 9 a.m. But if you plan to mix it up, keep in mind you have to pass through a metal detector.
Comments (3)
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Good coverage of this at GoDeKalb.com: http://www.broadcastatlanta.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5966&Itemid=2131 Everyone in the DK is looking forward to next year when Mr. CEO is done and all the drama is over! And this clown thinks he's US Senate material...
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CEO candidate curent commish Burrell Ellis compromise proposal has promise--granfather any clubs already in DeKalb as of the date when the Atlanta 2:30 ordinance was approved. That takes care of revenue concerns of all of the "bars"--black, white and other--90% of DeKalb's business--and puts more stringent rules on stuff that only came to DeKalb because Buckhead and Mid-Town threw them out.
Vernon and two county commissioners bickering like four year olds...Santa knows who's been naughty! http://proprietornation.blogspot.com/2007/12/dekalb-county-commissioners-go-crazy-at_03.html http://proprietornation.blogspot.com/2007/12/dekalb-county-commissioners-go-crazy-at_3165.html
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