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tv   [untitled]    February 29, 2012 2:30am-3:00am PST

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doing inspections of the various clubs. on the whole i have liked what i have seen. i am happy the clubs are doing things for it well. one of the club's, " recess. i have seen an improvement. the lines are more -- more control. we have not had any problems i have seen coming out of there. it is helpful, whether it be that conditions, it gets back to them and the pabst drive to make a better different. as far as the club violations, for the last three weeks, the parlor and that is at 2801 leavenworth. i'm going to briefly read the narrative from a report that was from a battery that happened there. this is from february 12.
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we were in the area of beach and leavenworth. the area is where the nightclub the parlor is located. i know this area to have a high volume or have a high volume of physical fights between patrons. i have heard and responded to many calls of service involving patrons. it was already on our radar. we saw -- we see a lot of assaults go on. we started to go by there. on february 12, we went by there and saw a violation of the good neighbor policy and blocked sidewalks and near-fights going on. the frontline not be controlled. it was chaos. there would be no way that someone would feel comfortable having to walk by, this is fisherman's wharf, and walk on the sidewalk to ground different groups. there was a near-5 and people were squaring off on each other and security as we did not see
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security taking any measures. there were going across the street and nothing was being done. the line was not being controlled trade for two weeks in a row there were -- the line was not being controlled. for two weeks in a row there were obama's stains. we can attribute that to over- serving. they have to look at raising the price of the bottle service or cutting it in half as far as the availability. if someone is spending a few hundred dollars, they feel they are entitled to drink that and they do not want to waste it. what we're getting is people that are going to slam it down and come out and become a real problem or become a danger to themselves. we have notice violations on the 12th at the parlor. on the 18th, noise, the front- line not controlled, fights inside the club that came out. part -- patrons over served.
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some could not stand. bonnett on the ground again. -- vomit on the ground again. that day we felt we were able to meet the manager and we talked for half an hour that night and went over the different concerns we have. we talked about backing down on the bottle service, listening that or making it more expensive. we talked about controlling the lines. not having it completely blocked. it said the -- set the tone. another one was a 85 -- was 85 campton. it is an alleyway going out to stockton. it is to 30 a.m. and you have a large group. i did not see any security out there. security had them go outside and they were done and we're going to go home. they still have a responsibility
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of dealing with the people over on stockton street. the hustler club on february 25 at 12:30 pm we talked to them about not having [unintelligible] it was a perfect time or unfortunate for them. we have an increase in patrons having injuries when having altercations with security. i went to talk to the security supervisor and i said, i have not been there for any of these fights i do not know if it was justified or not. we have seen a spike in your patrons been injured during the struggles. in the middle of that conversation, we hear something coming up the stairs, a fight in people yelling. one of the patrons was to my right. one of the employees came up and had the ear piece and he
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rips off his jacket and gets in a fighting stance. it is kind of perfect timing to say this is what we're talking about. the security be escalating the situation rather than challenging a person to fight. i expect two drugs that are at a club to get in an argument and perhaps five. security, we hold them up too much higher standard. they're supposed to be taking care and alleviating the situation. during when we were talking with what the manager as well as what the person he, he said he was a host, a club post. we went to talk about what his work duties were. he was soft security officer. we talked to him about having a guard card and we talked about the escalation techniques and we are counting on the clubs to use the escalation techniques to make the situation better. -- de-escalation techniques to
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make the situation better. next was the ambassador club. this is at 1:40 a.m. on february 25. the sidewalk is blocked, patrons yelling and a patron was urinating on the front of a van when we came up. those of the big ones. we have been out every weekend. i think it is helpful when we go to the clubs and we explain what we expect from them. the also lettis what -- know what their concerns are. i have seen improvements on broadway as well as other clubs in the central. we are still working on it. it is a work in progress. >> in the case of the parlor. you say you constantly see over service. you contact the abc to back you up? >> we are working with the alu and they forward the information to the abc. i just got an e-mail from the
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owner of the parlor. we're going to have a set down this week or early next week to go over ways they can reduce that. we're working with them. >> thank you. commissioner hyde: now is the parlor again. i believe he did not have to drink the whole bottle. they have a place where you can store your bottle. is that correct? >> they might have a storage area. with the availability of it sitting right there, it is one thing that you have to order another drink but if i can to put up, it is to 15, i can get another shot. it is so easy. >> it had better not be to 3:00 pm >> 1:15 a.m. que>> it is harder to monitor. you are going back and forth and you say i have served that
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person seven drinks. if you have a person with a bottle, it could be any one of them. we talked to the manager and we said you are still responsible. you have sold this bottle. you are still responsible for the consumption and it has to be done in a safe manner. if there intoxicated, the club could be held liable. >> one of the questions for you on bottle service. do you think it would be helpful to require a minimum amount of people at a table for each bottle so if someone buys a bottle of vodka, the have to have a minimum of four to six people at the table. what people are doing when they buy a bottle service is they're buying a seat in the club. buying a table. do you think there would be helpful? >> it could be helpful. i would much prefer that to not having back. we still have the option of maybe someone who does not drink at all and the yahoo who just
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slams down everything. >> president newlin: any other questions? thank you. would any member of the public like to comment? seeing none, we will go in to item number six. discussion of possible action to review existing place of entertainment conditions at the rockit room. >> as i mentioned in my report, we did do a seven-day suspension for, and you should have in your blinders the suspension documents to look at. with the grounds attached to them. there were a think -- they were
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aware three different police reports. those are cited on the third page, indicating the factual basis for the suspension. in addition to some outstanding citations we had issues and were not paid at that time as well. they have since been paid. citations that were issued, one in october of 2011, when november and a third in february of this year. primarily for noise problems and security plan violations and on the night of the 12th february, was a particularly bad incident that ended in address -- three arrests. often, when we do suspensions,
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we at a staff level will determine that it would be an opportune time to impose conditions. as the director, i am empowered to do that without the commission. however, we felt that in this case it might be of some value to the venue operators for the commission to go through this process with us and go -- look at, we have provided you with some suggestions for addition to their place of entertainment permit which does not have too many, it was issued in late december. again, there is 14 of them here for you to look at. there is no reason to use the moll, unless you feel it is necessary. i also had doubts from the applicant -- the pretty -- permittee two different
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documents. unless you want to add to that. the permittee is here. president newlin: ok. >> i have a little bit of information. we have officer moore from the richmond station and his capt. is here as well. >> why don't you have a seat? >> to reinforce what joycelyn has said. this commission knows that the rockit room has been mentioned in the past with ongoing problems about security, drug- dealing going on in front of the location, some incidents of violence. we have -- they have been cited by the entertainment commission
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8-24 last year, 10-16 last year, 1116 last year, and 47 of this year. there has been the problem here. there has been ongoing problems here. we have seen some improvement and more often see one step forward, two steps back. there has been a lot of man hours has gone into this from both the entertainment commission and sfpd. we have gone complaints from neighbors in the area from sound and other issues as people leave going to and from the venue. i think officer moore has details of the time line and a little bit more of a history. president newlin: great. if we can hear from the police department, please. >> good evening, commissioners.
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i wanted to -- i am a permit officer at richmond station. i wanted to get a timeline. since october. i will try to keep it as concise as possible. this not everything that has happened in regard to the rockit room or the areas. you understand the issue this is causing the police department and neighbors and other businesses in the area. on october 7, 2011, there was a physical fight in front of that club and the parties were dispersed upon police arrival. on october 15, 2011, and a physical fight resulted in serious injuries. one of the injured was injured by the security team who broke up the fight by sending him face first into a parking meter in front of the club. two of the patrons were transported to sfgh.
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i would like to show you some of the pictures were have of the victims of that fight as well. -- we have of the victims of that fight as well. there was numerous permit violations on october 18. i witnessed security working the front door and take shots of alcohol at the bar. one of the intoxicated security guards became very verbal with vaj and i and took a fighting stance and had to be held back by lesser intoxicated security guards. i called back of police and they did respond. the security guard is the head of security even today. on october 28, 2011, the fight of to a club patrons -- two club patrons in front of the bar. both were released at a report was made. security was nowhere to be found and were not mentioned.
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november 10, 2011. a patron was removed by the club by security for being too intoxicated and draw out onto the sidewalk. the police had to pick him up and take him to richmond station to be arrested. that same day, inspector granelli and i visited and we advise the owner that he did not currently have a place of entertainment permit and that entertainment't must cease november 11. two patrons were observed holding open bottles of beer. one of the patrons was cited by police for open container. on november 11, 2011, a dj was planning at the club and they were cited for permit violation. november 16, 2011. tim choy applied for zeran
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entertainment permit. the rockit room had live entertainment and were cited. there were cited for another permit violation. november 22, 2011. i received an a.m. -- an e-mail from tim choy. he stated due to the time and money stated, "we decided to take the risk of citation and pay any possible fines and let the shows go 1." on november 26, 2011, there were cited for two permit violations. they were cited for permit violations. there were advertise is scheduled entertainment on their website. november 30, 2011, a review describing how bartenders were giving away free drinks. december 1, 2011. there were cited for permit violation. on december 5, cited for permit
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violation. on december 6 at 2011, as notified by the entertainment commission that the place of entertainment permit was no valid. on january 5, 2012, yelp.com describes of bartender who pours free drinks and takes shots. these are abc violations. january 5, 2012. a yelp.com review states "it definitely attract more of a ghetto crowd. there were people shooting craps like they were in a 1990's hip- hop video pi." sfpd arrested the intoxicated mail. it was determined that the intoxicated mail was under the influence of a narcotic and had been transported to sfgh.
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security never called police. for every 12th through 13th 2011, a show resulted in three arrests which was outlined a few minutes prior. for outstanding warrants, a stolen vehicle and gun charges. one of the incidents resulted in a vehicle fleeing from police in their vehicle and crashed into a wall at a dead-end on sixth avenue and they fled on foot through backyards. the suspects got away. for every 23, 2011 -- 2012. i met with tim choy and we advised him on violations and continuing criminal activity. we offered solutions to him. his management staff and security team to make it a law abiding and safe venue as well as possible consequences for further this regard of the law. it should be noted in a meeting in december 2011 it was recommended he meet with sf safe
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to discuss solutions. he has failed to contact sf safe. numerous police units have to respond to the rockit room malley at closing time to discourage lawlessness. we do not have the resources to continue to babysit the patrons of the rockit room, so we're asking for your help. i know the capt. wanted to come up and talk to you as well. president newlin: great report. what kind of crowds, what is the number? >> it depends on the night of the week. they have certain events on certain nights. salsa monday, we never have an issue. tuesday's comedy night. we never have an issue. thursday is reggae night, it is capacity or overcapacity.
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there is always an issue on the thursday night. saturday night's also tend be crowded if not overcrowded and result in numerous issues. it is thursday, friday, saturday night, 95% of all the issues that come out of rockit room. president newlin: captain? >> good evening. i am the commanding officer of the richmond station. i want to thank officer moore, he has been doing an excellent job tracking the incidents. he gave you a small snapshot of many of the crimes and quality of life issues that have been focused around the rockit room. i deal with many community groups in my neighborhood. i go to several meetings a week. i hear the neighborhood concerns and i hear the
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complaints about the rockit room, the crime it attracts, the quality of life issues, the noise. i also speak regularly to my officers, might lieutenants and sergeants, who work that i watch. i know how taxing it is on our limited resources to police the rockit room when they have events, especially thursday, friday, and saturday night. it is taxing our resources. oftentimes i wish i had enough resources to vote a squad to set up and be a fixed post in front of the rockit room. i do not have those types of resources so we need your help. i reviewed the recommendations and i feel they are fair and promote public safety. i endorse them 100%. i think there is an excellent recommendation. i strongly believe these recommendations will promote public safety and the
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surrounding neighborhood and it will make their richmond district a safer place overall. i fully endorse your recommendations. thank you. president newlin: anyone have questions for the captain? thank you. could we have the owner? >> good evening. my name is tim choy, owner and operator of the rockit room. president newlin: go ahead. >> i was looking at some of the documentation you gave us and i have a couple of questions. under the band booking agreements. how much in advance do you issue these before they actually play the venue? >> of looking goes out two or three months -- a booking goes
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out two or three months. >> no one -- nowhere does it say that if they have contraband they will be ejected. considering one of the people that was arrested the other day was the promoter and one was a performer. is that right? nowhere does it have a consequence to the police boat -- the people who you employed to entertain, if they bring contraband or weapons into your venue. >> that is a good point. >> do you pat down your performers and promoters? >> we do. >> secondly, on your security plan. all the stars, are they fixed place positions? >> some of them are mobile. >> match -- which ones? >> management access security. they roamed the venue. they're not all fixed positions.
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there are fixed positions in the front which we should have listed. >> i see in the front but inside, are they fixed or are they roamers, are you protecting your sound this? >> the ones away from the doorways are the ones that room. -- roam. >> if you have the security guards but what good are the of their not sober? if the security guards are loaded, do you have any consequences to your employees if they drink or do drugs or smoke pot on the job or shop loaded before they come to work? is thereconsequence? are we have zero tolerance career in >> is it true that your head -- is it true that your head of securities was totally loaded and remains your security democrats there was
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question over who was security that day. >> he was a patron that day? >> yes. >> you allow your staff to come to your club so loaded they cannot function? >> that is not true. >> that is not true, but he was loaded enough for officer morore to take note. how did you explain that. >> that is not an exception -- that is not perceptible. >> but you still have him. without your license you do not sell news, without your entertainment license -- you do not sell alcohol, and with out your entertainment permit, you do not entertain.
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>> we are in the process of getting a permit. >> you are not allowed to have entertainment without a permit, get you blatantly disregarded that, and you did not answer them. how do you explain that? price we took over the rocket room three years ago, and we've filed for that permit. it was not brought to my attention. three years later when we started having all little trouble -- >> it is your job as a business owner to know whether you have a permit or not. if you did not get the sign off
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and the final permit, it is your job to get the sign off. do not tell me you are too busy. you are too busy not to have of business. you are not in the busier than any other of the new owner. -- you are not busier than any other business owner. i find this disturbing. i would like to know why you think you are responsible enough to continue in this matter. you say you are going to change, but are you really going to change? >> we are going to change. >> you do pat downs in front of your covelub? how you train people? >> we have guards. everybody knows how to do putdowns properly -- and pat
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downs properly. >> when you say part of management, what is your role? >> i manage. >> you are the senior manager? >> yes. >> we have heard a litany of problems from the commission and the police department. what were you doing when you saw those things happen over and over again? what did you come up with? >> there were attempts to make it better. >> what did you do? >> we added