January 24, 2007
Jim Graham's Underage Club Crusade
Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) is well known for being thoughtful, energetic, and responsive to the needs of his constitutents. He lords over the District's most diverse and vibrant ward, participating in discussions on everything from transportation to crime to consumer and regulatory affairs. It was no surprise, then, that Graham dove headfirst into last Saturday's tragic killing of 17-year-old Taleshia Ford at Club 1919. He quickly informed constituents of the night's events, pushed Police Chief Cathy Lanier to shut down the club, and started advocating for a legislative fix. But that's where he went wrong. Though Graham's response has made for good publicity, it has also made for poor public policy. Tragic as Ford's death was, a legislative fix as draconian as the one he's proposed doesn't solve the problem. Worse yet, it seems to make one tragic night into a problem worthy of such a fix, the facts notwithstanding.
Graham's proposal -- which, as the City Paper has reported, he might be waffling on -- would involve banning minors from venues in the District that serve alcohol. As many of us surely know, this would signal the end of all-ages shows at some of our favorite haunts -- the 9:30 Club and Black Cat among them. Why such a drastic measure? Because, according to Graham, mixing minors and alcohol necessarily leads to trouble. But does it? The facts surrounding Ford's killing don't mention any underage use of alcohol. Moreover, and more importantly, no one has claimed that her killing had anything to do with alcohol. Ford was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, and someone made the criminally punishable decision to carry a gun into the club. From what we know, she was enjoying a perfectly legal night out and unwittingly became the victim of a tragic shooting. The age of the people or the alcohol they may or may not have consumed have nothing to do with what happened to her. Is it good public policy to ban behaviour that 99 percent of the time does not result in criminal behavior?
Then there's the issue of the club itself. As we noted earlier today, Graham has already stated that he doubted it would ever re-open. Why, exactly? Graham has promised to push the Alcohol Control Board to permanently revoke its license today, though he hasn't indicated that the club has ever done anything to violate the provisions of its license. As for the club's security, there's nothing to indicate that the club owner or manager knowingly allowed guns into the club. Most of the venues we regularly visit don't pat us down or force us to walk through metal detectors. If someone brought a gun into DC9 and randomly shot someone else, would we demand that the club's owner be charged with negligence and have his liquor license revoked? Probably not. If it happened with surprising frequency and the owner did nothing about it, it might be a different story. But if Graham chooses to view every incident as a trend, it seems only fair that every bar and restaurant be held to the same high security standards -- not just ones, as Graham implies, that cater to Go Go fans.
Even if Graham pushes the legislation he's proposed, he'll likely face stiff opposition. His ward is packed with bars and restaurants, none of which want to know that a freak incident could threaten their liquor license and their livelihood. Clubs that are regularly the scenes of violence and crime should surely suffer consequences -- as Club U and Kili's Kafe did -- but one tragedy shouldn't bring down the full force of the law. Minors and their parents may also have something to say. Attending all-ages shows provides many minors with something to do, from interacting with their peers to being exposed to culture -- in a controlled environment, no less. District families might be none-too-happy to know that Graham's proposal would have the unintended consequence of forcing their kids to stay home or aimlessly wander the streets.
Ultimately, Ford's killing is a tragedy, cutting her down in the prime of her life. Graham should be applauded for being as responsive as he is, but we'd like him to take a step back and consider this for what it was -- tragic. Could it have been prevented? It's tough to say. Was alcohol to blame? Doesn't seem like it. Was it minors mixing with drinkers? Doesn't look like it. Was it the club? Again, nope. So why push legislation trying to pretend that it was?
Graham has announced that he will holding a roundtable discussion on this issue tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the D.C. Council chambers. Details here. If you can't make it, submit your thoughts directly to Graham himself at grahamwone (at) gmail (dot) com.
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Jim Graham is the best councilman this city has. If I did not live in Ward 1 I'd move back to Arlington. I don't mind 18 and up clubs, but 17 is just too young. Graham would make a great mayor, or even congressman.
Anyone know where i can score some hot hentai?
Graham is over-reacting to what appears to be an isolated situation. It does not surprise me that he is already waffling on this, waffling is typical behavior for him. There was a great City Paper article on him a while back that outlined his indecisiveness.
There was a stabbing at Chaos, a gay club, a year or so back. I don’t recall much discussion about shutting that club down.
Graham would be a disaster as mayor. He should focus on strengthening egg warnings.
Graham is thoughtful?
I have to say that I also kind of agree that below 18 seems a bit too young to be mingling with skeezy adults.
For some reason I see I difference between a live music club and a DJ'd club. I guess it seems more ok to me for younger kids to go to a live music show, whether it's jazz, go-go, rock or whatever, where drinking seems less of a focus than at a normal dance club. And it's not just the question of whether the kids are drinking, it's a question of whether the kids are around adults who are drinking.
I have no strong logical basis for this other than a discomfort with the idea of 16 year olds dancing with adults in a alcohol-fueled setting. I don't know that I support Graham's proposal, but I don't necessary think the status quo is perfect either.
I think people are looking for a happy medium of enforcement that simply doesn't exist. We all complain about violence, particularly when it involves guns, but this is where it takes backbone, and admit that while this response may not be completely warranted in the best case scenario, this event nonetheless provides an opportunity to look at our underage laws, and crack down on establishments that act as incubators for this kind of incident.
Has anyone ever seen a positive City Paper article about anyone? I don't think kids should be in bars. DC is the most complacant city in the world. It seems everyone is content with this "anything goes and if something goes wrong so what" attitude. A 17 year old was shot and Mr. Graham is rightly questioning weather or not a 17 year old should be in a bar at all, yet he is the bad guy for getting off his butt and doing SOMETHING? It makes no sense. I live near U st so I can tell you both of those clubs are over-run with high school kids every night of the week. The sidewalk is filled with them at 2-3 in the morning. Who cares about education, lets go after Graham for trying to stop these kids from going to bars...lets party!
Reid - You definitely have a point about not wanting 16 year old girls (or boys) rubbing up on alcohol-besotted and judgement impaired 20somethings, but can we make laws based on a queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach? I guess a lot has changed since I was 17 and going to all ages shows 20 years ago, but I remember them always starting early (like before 6pm) and the bar being closed until all the kiddies were kicked out after the show.
Killing all-ages shows will finally put a nail in the coffin for all those dj nights. Not necessarily a bad thing.
BM: Are you implying that there was no apparent action taken when there was a stabbing at a gay club... because of the councilmember's own sexuality?
First off, let's not get carried away here -- most bars don't let minors in. The ones that do are often music venues, and I personally see no harm in allowing them in, provided means are taken to prevent them from drinking. As for those kids hanging out late, maybe their parents should do something about that, not the legislative process.
As for those kids hanging out late, maybe their parents should do something about that, not the legislative process.
Don't be silly Martin, that would mean parents would have to know where their kids are, what they're doing, and who they're out with!
Martin, maybe their parents should, but don't. Deferring it to the parents is like saying why have any laws at all: Shop lifting should be legal because parents should teach their kids not to steel. Meth should be legal because parents should teach their kids not to do meth. Assult weapons should be legal because parents should teach their kids not to shoot people. Some people actually beleive all that. Believe it or not, but public policy does influence the population, which is why I say we should make laws that help keep kids in school, and making clubs 18+ will help create that environment.
The main issue I have is that no one has proven to me that there is a serious problem that needs to be addressed! If a few kids go out on a weeknight to a show that runs late, is that something that we need to legislate against? One tragic killing isn't reason enough to ban every 16-year-old from ever going to a show at the 9:30 Club or Black Cat, especially when very few other venues feature those types of acts.
I think we're missing the point here...hentai
Sorry, but the issue is that a kid got killed in a club at 2:20 am. I can't think of any place in the country that would allow this establishment to continue to run. And I'm glad that DC is taking a no-tolerance stance on the issue.
jlist.com
now, can we get back to discussing just how stupid bow ties are?
CD,
Yes, a 17-year-old was killed. Would it have been a different reaction had it been a 21-year-old? The ultimate result is that someone got killed, age notwithstanding. Again, laws are not made based on single incidents. I fail to see why 17-year-old will no longer get to go to shows at the 9:30 Club if Graham's law passes.
The first concert I ever went to was at an alcahol serving establishment in Clearwater, FL featuring the Dead Kennedys with Butt Hole Surfers and Agent Orange. I was only 16. A riot broke out 15 minutes after the concert began. Even the Butt Hole Surfers were fighting, it was complete KAOS. This skin head named Dean Catera stabbed a black guy to death that night. The Clearwater, FL city council (composed mostly of scientologists) shut the establishment down. There hasn't been a riot in Clearwater, FL since.
Would it have been somehow less of a tragedy if the person killed were 21? Clearly, the problem is that someone brought A GUN into a night club, not the age of the attendees.
Joe,
Unless you're joking, I've been to tons of all-age shows where no one has been stabbed or shot and no fights or riots have been started.
If, apparently, the gun went off in the tussle between the armed assailant (from outside the club trying to make his way in) and the bouncer in which it appears the man with the gun never was "allowed" into the club, nor made it beyond the immediate front, why should this club be closed?
ooooooooooooh, because of the GO-GO music.
So, it has nothing to do with the fact that the owners put in place all of the required deterrents [to acquire and maintain an operating license]; the bouncer was doing his job (risking his own life in hindsight) and, as spoken on before, alcohol was not issued as a contributing factor to this horrible, horrible accident.
minors staying out late is a separate issue.
Last Wednesday, two days before Ford's death, 1000 or so kids saw Fall Out Boy play the 9:30 club. The bar was open, and the handful of people old enough to drink were able to do so.
Who has a problem with that arrangement? Pre-emptive haha that we should ban Fall Out Boy from DC music venues. Hipsters can replace Fall Out Boy with some lousy accoustic band featuring nerdy kids with beards and western-styled shirts. You get the point.
Are any of you arguing that the bar should have been shut down, or the kids should have been locked out? Cause if you are, you're stupid and I hate you.
This would be a TERRIBLE law!! Those young people with their perky sweater puppies/stiff dicks, fresh faces, and low tolerances are the main, perhaps only, reason why those dance clubs are worth going to at all. A few jager shots, and I've got 18 year old AU/GWU hotties grinding away against my beer gut. Jim's a good guy, but this is threatening to get in the way of my fun.
Jim Graham - thoughtful? Jim Graham the metro board member who never rides metro, NEVER rides the bus and parks illegally all over town? The man who has obviously never thought at all about what metro means to this city while sitting on its board?
I admit, I like some things he has done. I don't see him as evil. But he's so overreacting here and approaching this the wrong way.
There are already laws in place to deal with this kind of situation. Why not use those laws rather than passing more laws? Legislation is not always the solution, especially when so many current laws that apply to the current situation remain unenforced.
So Mr Graham, pressure the police to deal with this using the laws already in place. Don't make new laws because old ones aren't enforced.
(This makes me think of Mr Fenty - I am a Ward 4 resident. Got a problem with people drunk in public? Don't bother enforcing the existing liquor laws - propose a ban on single sales! Got a problem with speeding? Don't ask for enforcement in that area - install speed bumps and MORE stop signs! I know, these guys are legislators, not cops, and when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. But sometimes, you can't wave your magic hammer and fix it - you need to get the right tool. In this case, that would be the police department.)
Martin's original post is excellent. I hope Jim Graham will be responsive to all these concerns.
Incidentally, speaking as part of the insufferable hipster community, I must say that it sounds like the club that I frequent the most the would be hit the hardest by this is the Black Cat. First the 'Cat's not allowed to have any post-smoking ban outdoor development, next it may not be allowed to have all-ages shows. Sounds dangerous for the club that deserves a lot of the credit/blame for the gentrification of 14th Street/Logan Circle/U Street.
Now, only if we could get rid of that damn check cashing place!!!
Alcohol had nothing to do with the girl's tragic death. The girl was not drinking. She was not doing anything illegal. She was dancing on the dance floor with friends.
She was killed because of the guy who brought the gun into the club because he was defending the 'honor' of his busted pot-smoking woman friend.
This is nothing other than Graham once again scoring cheap political points and getting free publicity. At the roundtable, someone should ask Graham what else the club could have done to prevent this tragedy? They should also ask him why he's so eager to shut the club down, given that there's no indication at all that the club did anything wrong. They should also ask him why he's not focusing his energy and limelight on why the DC cops have yet to arrest either the shooter or his pot-smoking friend who set off the whole thing.
Alcohol had nothing to do with the girl's tragic death. The girl was not drinking. She was not doing anything illegal. She was dancing on the dance floor with friends.
She was killed because of the guy who brought the gun into the club because he was defending the honor of his busted pot-smoking woman friend.
This is nothing other than Graham once again scoring cheap political points and getting free publicity. At the roundtable, someone should ask Graham what else the club could have done to prevent this tragedy? They should also ask him why he's so eager to shut the club down, given that there's no indication at all that the club did anything wrong. They should also ask him why he's not focusing his energy and limelight on why the DC cops have yet to arrest either the shooter or his pot-smoking friend who set off the whole thing.
Someone got shot in my block. Close down the block.
Some kids get shot in school. Close down the schools.
Someone got shot in the war (and they were only 18) Close down the war.
Shouldn't we be more worried about violence and gun shots than live music and shots of booze?
I went to all ages shows from 16. I've been to, and played at, thousands by now. No one has EVER been shot or stabbed at any of them. They are far safer places for kids than the Keggers or soul killing teenage parties that I avoided by being part of the punk rock scene. In fact, I went to college on a scholarship established by the greiving family of a classmate whose boyfriend had too much to drink and drove her into a wall at one of those parties.
It was a tragedy to be sure but there were no calls for banning cars, banning the sale of alcohol, banning the driving on roads.
Under age drinking is illegal.
Shooting people is illegal.
We don't need new laws, we need enforcement of the old ones.
xjtoomey
Wasn't there a recent killing at a dry cleaner on Eastern Avenue? Why didn't the police close down the dry cleaner? Will Graham propose shutting it down permanently? Is there any kind of formal or legal standard that defines which kinds of legitimate businesses it is proper to single out for discriminatory negative treatment?
I've said it before, and I'll say it again- shutting down the club is patently unfair and won't solve the problem at hand. The whole debacle started when the bouncers kicked the gun-toting woman out of the club for lighting up a joint. Therefore, the club was doing the right thing and is being punished for having done so. Fine, ban the kids from the clubs; it'll just be an adult who gets shot next time. Focus on the problem at hand- this woman's illegal actions.
I'm sure there are plenty of us who went to shows when we were little and turned out just fine. God knows had I not been allowed to go to shows, I would have turned to my other hobby at the time, petty vandalism.
That said, restrictions aren't necessarily a bad idea. Clubs could keep a limit on the number of minors allowed in according to a minor-to-staff ratio, the logic there being that the kids would be more visible to the staff, who would be better equipped to enforce their policies. Furthermore, having a curfew for minors in a club wouldn't be a bad idea, either, although I'm not sure how you'd enforce it. Why not make a distinction between a club- where the primary focus is on seeing a live act- and a bar- where the primary focus is a place for adults to get together and drink?
Forgive my naivete, but is the curfew still in effect?
If we can't make it to the discussion tomorrow, is there a place where we can submit our coments?
As someone in another forum pointed out, it's convenient for Graham to promote this legislation because it appeals to some of his voters and makes it look like he's being proactive. The kids who are going to be affected by this legislation by being banned from shows in venues that serve alcohol are for the most part not yet able to vote, so he doesn't really have to listen to their position. Even if they try to have their views heard, he's conveniently scheduled his round table discussion during an hour that many of them are in school.
"he's conveniently scheduled his round table discussion during an hour that many of them are in school."
not to mention during a time when much of his live-music-loving constituency is at work.
There are at least three things you can do to this effect:
1. Call/email Graham & the Council Chair Vincent Gray (who schedules votes)
to voice your opposition
2. Call/email Graham and his fellow committee members (in case the emergency
legislation gets knocked back to the committee for markup)
3. Call/email all Council members and tell them to vote against the upcoming
emergency legislation
If you live in Ward 1, note that in your call/email to Graham (south of Spring St NW, north of Florida Ave NW, east of Rock Creek Park and west of North Capitol St).
Sample Call/Email Script
"Dear [DC City Council Member]
Hi. My name is ____________. I am a resident of Ward __ [or a frequent patron of _______ club/bar]. I am calling concerning Jim Graham's proposed legislation to ban minors from entering establishments that serve liquor. This bill will prevent already underserved young people from enjoying live music and dancing at clubs like [the Florida Market Lounge] and [the Black Cat] that derive a portion of their revenue from alcohol sales. Underage music fans and alcohol have coexisted at these venues for decades. Banning young people will not prevent random acts of violence, but it will deprive them of a necessary and overwhelmingly safe space to congregate, connect and enjoy live music. I respectfully urge you to vote against this unnecessary and harmful legislation.
Thank you,
[Your Name]"
***Contacts
1. Jim Graham, Ward 1 Councilmember
grahamwone@gmail.com 202-724-8181
2. Vincent Gray, Council Chair
vgray@dccouncil.us
202 724-8068
**Other committee members:
1. Kwame Brown, At-Large- ***kbrown@dccouncil.us
2. Mary Cheh, Ward 3 - ** mcheh@dccouncil.us
3. Main Committee Number: 202-724-8198
**Other councilmembers:
1. Schwartz: schwartzc@dccouncil.us
2. Catania: dcatania@dccouncil.us
Mendelson: pmendelson@dccouncil.us ;
3. Brown: kbrown@dccouncil.us
4. Evans: jackevans@dccouncil.us 5. Thomas: hthomas@dccouncil.us 6. Wells: twells@dccouncil.us
7. Barry:
I wonder if this isn't a far greater problem for kids from the suburbs. I have absolutely no figures to back this up, but I'm fairly certain that most of the kids at the Black Cat or 9:30 don't actually live in the city. Maybe I'm just basing that on my own experience growing up, but I also don't often see punk rock kids walking to school in my neighborhood.
Did they ever catch the guy that shot the place up, or is he still hanging out?
Personally like nearly everything else about DC i dont give a f--k whether they let minors in clubs or not, but I do care if they catch the douche that shot the place up.
re: Parents should know what their kids are doing
"Michelle Wilson said she had forbidden her daughter...from attending the club in the past. Wilson agreed this weekend because Taleshia was going with relatives."
The family knew where the kid was. So this isn't a negligent parent thing.
Also, FTA: " "There is no hesitation. This place will be shut down," Fenty said."
Interesting that they are solely blaming the club for this, with no apparent mention of the gunman. Especially since the woman got kicked out, left, and came BACK with the gunman. I wonder how this will affect nightclub/bar policy in the area. An arms race?
Although the place has had some minor run-ins with the liquor board before, seems like this was a tragic event perpetrated by ONE idiot with a gun.
[sorry if this is dp]
Aren't you guys jumping all over Jim Graham before he has even said what he is going to do? Go to the roundtable if your so concerned, you'll find he is a reasonable guy and may not have decided what to do. Personally, regardless of who was shot where and when, I would like to see DC enact and 18 and up thing. Additionally, some of those clubs on Ust are catering to a younger -18 crowd intentionally, I think that should be stopped. As to closing it down, I don't know what the history of the club is yet, but I plan to find out at the roundtable.
He actually HAS said what he was going to do.
If you google "Jim Graham" and "club" the first thing that comes up is an article from Jim's website where he says
"I will testify in support of permanently revoking the license."
and then later in the same article...
"I introduced legislation this week to enable the District government to immediately suspend a liquor license if the licensee poses an imminent danger to public safety"
Furthermore, what is wrong with catering to 18 year olds? Shouldn't they be allowed to watch live music if they are obeying the law?
It's like half these people have conveninetly forgotten how smart and responsible they were at 18.
xjtoomey
People, focus! The proposed legislative fix is going to bar minors (under the age of 18) AND underage drinkers (18-20) from bars. Most all of the rambling commentary on this post is focusing on the MINORS, and I think few would disagree that the kids should be kept out. But what about the 18-20 somethings? They are a separate category and should be discussed as such!
Curfews, banning from bars, just ban kids from DC altogether.
gross, did someone actually provide a hentai link
I have read nowhere that the supposed legislation is banning 18-20 year olds. The word used was minor which is legally less than 18 years of age. I think alot of you are failing to realize its not the 9:30 club he's after but rather real night clubs that let kids in. Do you even know the type of club the shooting took place at. Children should not be allowed in night clubs periods concerts/live music shows are totally different
So there will be Hentai at Jim Graham's Underage Dance Club this weekend? Count me in!
DC's Secretary of Youth Activities Sinclair Skinner must be fuming right about now.
thank you for pointing out that alcohol had nothing to do with the killing. the news (and the family/friends involved) seemed to miss that key point in the coverage. it's an important one.
while i would argue the parents should not have let their daughter be out that late, much less at a club selling alcohol to 21+, that bad decision did not directly contribute to her death anymore than wrong place, wrong time.
the real issue underlying this is the thuggish culture in DC. there are all sorts of stupid shootings and crime in DC but no one really gets bent about them until there's a "story" that FOX5 can run with. some angle-- weather it's a kid that's shot, someone west of the park, etc.
DC has got to stop warehousing its poverty in a couple parts of the city. moving toward more economically diversity across the city will break up the crime & "stop snitching" cycle that's all to prevalent in the areas with higher density low income housing.
close all the nightclubs you want, the same idiots out there now will just continue to shoot people in streets, alleys, parks, the mall, whatever...
I am cool with shutting them down when a 16 year old gets trashed and shoot up the place at last call. (: Other than that, it’s the parents “problem” to decide where minors can go. 21 is not a magic number for maturity and we all learn somehow.
After the city takes care of the shootings, corner drug dealers, and actually cleans up the trash; let’s revisit this topic.
The whole idea of kids going to venues where a certain type of adult thinks a good time is mixing with underage youngsters is, to say the least...creepy!
OOOOOOH! The Post reported that DC Police now know the nickname of the killer.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/22/AR2007012201278.html
Does anyone know why the club's owner turned over his liquor license? Was that some tacit admission of guilt?
It's a suspension prior to a hearing. It's customary in this sort of incident.
Well, Thomas, all you need to do is go to Graham's website and read his statement, in which he states "On Thursday, January 25, 2007, at 2:00 p.m., I will hold a roundtable to discuss the current D.C. law that permits minors and underage persons in district nightclubs and taverns." Note the use of the term "and" - politicans are *usually* very careful with their words. Of course, no one has seen a draft of the proposed legislation - it is still very much a twinkle in Mr. Graham's eye, and the roundtable may change that...
as a 19 year old who grew up in the city, clubs and music venues who let in the underage (legally) provide the only appealing alternative to mindless unsupervised drinking on someone's apartment roof/ in a public park. More so than other major cities, DC has nearly no evening activities open to those under 21.
Most of my friends enjoyed going to Love or the black cat much more than the typical teenage activities overly restrictive laws consign us to.
Essentially, this ban will increase underage drinking and drug use because the only alternatives now available will be gone.
We had a similar debate on Torontoist recently concerning all-ages events in the city. The drinking age is 19 and I am arguing that the strict 16+ policy is ageist:
http://www.torontoist.com/archives/2007/01/top_5_council_w.php
to the person below me...how can you say 17 is to young to be in a club when im sure most of the bands you see got their start by playing a similar club at that age?