 Sheriff calls to House of Blues have increased over the past year. Photo by WeHo News - West Hollywood’s ONLY Newspaper, ONLY ONLINE! |
To be debated tonight at the regular city council meeting and apparently capped off by last month's free-for-all brawl that left one woman hospitalized, Mr. Heilman determined to bring the action following a killing last year and several fights or assaults at HOB this year.
Keeping West Hollywood’s entertainment venues safe stands as one of the city’s core objectives, as exemplified by the Sunset Business Improvement District’s (funded from entertainment/hotel interests on the Sunset Strip) expenditures on security for the entire Sunset Strip.
In the past, city officials have stressed the economic importance of the Sunset Strip as the city’s main source of revenue, from the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and sales and business tax revenue.
Mr. Heilman’s attempt at shutting down HOB is seen as an attempt to protect that reputation for security on the Strip.
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According to the staff report issued by his office, “House of Blues has had a history of serious problems and an unwillingness to address these problems. After each serious incident, there is a perfunctory apology and a promise to reform, but the problems persist and have escalated.
 Photo by WeHo News - West Hollywood’s ONLY Newspaper, ONLY ONLINE! |
“Moreover, while management at the House of Blues claims to accept responsibility and expresses a desire to change, the establishment continues to host events and promote the venue to groups which disrespect the community and the business.
“The problem is compounded by the fact that the general manager is not on site in the evenings when almost all of the disturbances occur.”
““The report lists the series of incidences that have occurred over the past six months: “In this year alone, the following serious incidents have occurred:
“February 27, 2008 - Patron hit in the face at concert.
“March 23, 2008 - Large crowd fighting in driveway.
“March 28, 2008 - Several persons involved in fight. Security requests Sheriffs assistance to prevent fight from escalating.
“April 26, 2008 - Sheriff's called to location. Windows open and loud concert music being played into neighborhood, May 23,2008 - Fighting in top parking lot.
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“June 21, 2008 - Six men trying to fight with security in driveway off Olive.
“June 26, 2008 - Male in and out of consciousness at location. Fire rescue unit required.
 Photo by WeHo News - West Hollywood’s ONLY Newspaper, ONLY ONLINE! |
“June 30, 2008 - About 50 people fighting at the location.
“July 7, 2008 - About 200 people from concert in front of location and people getting into fights.
“July 15, 2008 - Female in and out of consciousness at location. Fire rescue unit required.
“August 5, 2008 - Man had chair thrown at him in establishment.
“On Thursday, September 4, 2008 - , over 100 people were involved in fights both inside and outside the House of Blues. Sheriff's deputies had to request assistance from LAPD and the City of Beverly Hills police department. Several people were arrested on outstanding warrants, battery and drunkenness.
“One woman was hospitalized. Helicopters were dispatched to monitor the area and remained overhead until 1 :00a.m. The Sunset Strip was shut down for several hours.
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“Nearby businesses had no ingress or egress. As a consequence, several other businesses lost customers and were not able to return vehicles to customers -already at their establishments.
 Photo by Sandy Arison. WeHo News - West Hollywood’s ONLY Newspaper, ONLY ONLINE! |
“From September 2007- September 2008, events at the House of Blues have led to 44 arrests including fights, drunk and disorderly behavior and grand theft. This is more than double the arrests for the same period in 2006-2007.
“In addition, during the same time period, there have been over 100 Sheriff's radio dispatches for the House of Blues location.
“Problems continue to utilize a disproportionate share of law enforcement services and staff resources while putting the safety of the public at risk.
“In addition to the drain on resources, the House of Blues is disrupting residents' quiet enjoyment of their premises and negatively affecting the quality of life for people in the community.”
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