, the publisher behind Birmingham's Downtown Magazine, has created a petition at Change.org to challenge the liquor license for South Bar.
The petition was created after after a fight between two women. On Wednesday, released a photo of the woman believed to have shot the small handgun twice in the air; after turning herself in later that day, the woman is currently being questioned.
According to the petition, Monday's shooting is just the latest in an "ongoing series of incidents involving patrons of this bar/nightclub which have included fights and even a stabbing."
"The situation at South Bar constitutes a serious diversion of public safety resources from the rest of the Birmingham community and the latest gunfire incident constitutes a serious threat to public safety for those living in downtown Birmingham, along with visitors to the community's downtown area," the petition reads.
As of Thursday night, the petition had 43 signatures.
Originally, the petition called for the city to revoke South's liquor license, however City Manager Bob Bruner said Thursday that only the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) has the authority to revoke licenses — not the city. The updated petition asks the Birmingham City Commission to "work toward rescinding" and challenge the South Bar liquor license.
Birmingham may file a request for the revocation of the liquor license with the MLCC, a process which involves an investigation and a public hearing.
"These actions have potentially significant consequences for both the city and the licensee, so we will address the immediate public safety concerns by increasing police patrols while carefully and thoughtfully weighing our options," Bruner said.
Meanwhile, objections to the renewal of the liquor license must be received by the MLCC no later than March 31 every year, meaning South's liquor license renewal won't come up again until 2013.
South has troubled history with fights, police
This isn't the first time South has had a brush with the police.
On Aug. 1, police charged two men from Detroit and Lathrup Village with felonious assault after . The men were reportedly part of an entourage with New York Jets wide receiver and Detroit native Braylon Edwards.
for extortion and slander after employees connected him to the fight.
The number of police incidents at South Bar was a heated topic of discussion at the . The commission called for special hearings for South and the Hamilton Room due to the number of disturbances there, noting it costs the city money to police these establishments.
“If our police department are going to be taxed by one or two establishments, that costs money,” Commissioner Rackeline Hoff said at the time. “It is costing money to prevent altercations.”
Both licenses were renewed and during the , Commissioner Stuart Sherman applauded both bars — including South — for accommodating commissioner concerns and cutting down on the number of police incidents.
"Both (South and the Hamilton Room) have made great strides in improving their situations," Sherman said.
Still, residents were concerned following Monday morning's shooting. More than 25 comments discussing the issue were left on the Birmingham Patch's Facbeook page.
"The city and bars need to address the violence that seems to have occurred around a few bars in town over the past few years," Brian Welch said. "This isn't the first time such incidents have taken place ... Bars don't have a right to operate if they keep attracting troublemakers."
City to conduct investigation, up police patrols downtown
Going forward, Birmingham Police Chief Don Studt said police will increase their patrols in downtown Birmingham to prevent any similiar incidents.
"This type of dangerous behavior is unacceptable by any standard and will not be tolerated," Studt said. "The men and women of the Birmingham Police Department are committed to ensuring everyone can enjoy Birmingham safely."
Bruner said though the next Birmingham City Commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, the issue won't be on the agenda and won't be discussed in detail until city staff conducts the required investigation.
"I think I speak for everyone in the city government when I saw we understand how detrimental incidents like this can be to our community," Bruner said. "We are taking this incident seriously and are doing everything we can to ensure Birmingham is safe for everyone. However the public should not expect city officials to make any further public comments on this incident until the investigation is complete."
Those interested in signing the petition should visit Change.org.
It's as if they never owned a restaurant/bar or based the concept off the nightclub in the movie Carlito's Way. South shouldn't lose their license because of crowd incidents. That can (and does) happen all the time in lots of locations. It should lose its license because it sucks.
If South were to update these other areas and round out the offering, I think there would be less issues with the community. As it stands, your offering is weak.
It's as if they never owned a restaurant/bar or based the concept off the nightclub in the movie Carlito's Way. South shouldn't lose their license because of crowd incidents. That can (and does) happen all the time in lots of locations. It should lose its license because it sucks.
How about shutting down at midnight as a way to keep the bad element out? Also, whyt don't you eliminate valet parking to get rid of the cheesy South Beach-wanna be scene out front where many of the confrontations occur?
That's an interesting standard you propose for state-licensed establishments: Don't suck if you want to do business in Birmingham. Good thing you're not on the city commission or Liquor Control Commission, S.W. And oh yes: You do know fictional nightclub manager Carlito Brigante was an ex-con dope pusher, right?
What's questionable, in my view, is the belief -- also voiced by others -- that "lower reputation = lower property value." That may seem intuitively valid, but I wonder if it's more than a hunch. Residential values are determined mainly by neighborhood, school district quality, market conditions and a community's general image (recreation, dining, retail, amenities, public services, overall crime rate), based on what I've read. Nighttime safety downtown surely plugs into the equation somewhere . . . though perhaps not as neatly or directly as you suggest. But hey, J.P., I'm just a homeowner who can't imagine prospective buyers see South's "rough people" as a deal-breaker or offer-lowering reason if they like a home, neighborhood, local schools and general vibe. It'd be useful to hear from a real estate pro, though these comment threads have been a free-fire zone for one Realtor who dared to speak publicly.
"Want to create a good thing for all" Explain how it is a good thing for me, or anyone else on my block. We live here. Unlike you.
I wish these bars/nightclubs/loungs/clubs were paying for the beefed up patrols instead of the citizens of this town. Most residents of Birmingham will never set foot in the Hamilton Club or Chen Chow, but South can be rehabilitated.
It is obvious. And you don't live here.
The man and two other passengers were picked up at Corner Bar right before 2 a.m. that morning. O go pull their license, shut them down, why are they open til 2 AM on a sunday morning? blah blah blah, wheres their petition? I'm pretty sure that just about rounds out every business in Birmingham having some type of crime where's the outcry on this one?
What's interesting is that nearly all of the problems occur at bars and loungers that many -- if not most -- people around town wish would shut their doors. The number of problems elsewhere around town are minimal. I haven't heard of any knife fights or weapon searches anywhere but South. The other bad actors are Hamilton Room and Chen Chow. Problems with the other lounges and clubs in town are rare because they aren't lounges and clubs. With all of this said, I truly hope South can clean up its act and thrive.