Date: Tue, 25 May 1999 (emphasis added by Andrew)
Dear Mr. Taylor,
Thank you for the update on the situation with regard to Oscar's. I was at the meeting last week and have been hoping to get more info. The list of 14 conditions recommended by the SPD was especially helpful. I am writing now to let you know some of the views my partner and I share in the hope that our ideas can be part of your upcoming meetings.
We have discussed the issue at great length in our household (we live about a block south on 22nd Avenue) and we are very concerned about the likelihood that granting Oscar's any type of liquor license is likely to bring back the same clientele that caused problems in the past. We do not personally have objections to seeing Oscar's have a liquor license that allows live music; however, because it seems likely to lead to a repeat of past problems, we do not believe that it is in the best interests of the community to grant another liquor license. I say that it seems likely that the past drug problems will recur because in the past 1-2 years that Oscar's has had no license but has been open, it does not appear that the restaurant/ club has undergone any significant changes that would make for a less inviting atmosphere for the former clientele. In short, we have not seen anything to indicate to us that Oscar and his wife are attempting to attract a different crowd.
Similarly, as is mentioned in the letter from the SPD to Liquor Board, during the time that Oscar's has not had a liquor license, the problems with drugs at that location have diminished. Our primary concern is that our block and our neighborhood not be a place where drugs and prostitution are permitted. When Oscar's had its liquor license, those activities were a larger problem on our street than they are now. Also, we expect that the extremely loud foot traffic very late at night on our block would increase if Oscar's regains its license. Although that may not directly be Oscar's problem, if his club attracts a clientele that is disruptive and causes disturbances in the neighborhood, then we prefer that the club not have a liquor license. We do want to be respectful of business owners' rights but, given the problems that occurred at Oscar's in the past, it does not seem that he and his wife were willing or able to meet the requirements of the law and this clearly created a larger problem for the whole neighborhood.
If Oscar's were granted another license, it is reasonable that the establishment comply with the guidelines offered by the SPD. They are severe--but given the illegal activities that took place at the club in the past it seems that such guidelines would be necessary to keep those illegal activities out in the future. Moreover, these conditions do not seem unfair because, as was pointed out at the recent meeting at Miller Community Center by the East Precinct Commander, business owners are legally responsible for being aware of problems in their establishments and putting a stop to them.
Further questions we have deal with the procedure for obtaining another license. Would there be a probationary period? If so, how long would it be, what does probation mean, and how would it be reviewed?
Thanks for collecting viewpoints from the neighborhood and
please keep us informed on these matters.
________________________________________________________________________________
Mon May 24 14:26:54 1999
Dear Andrew,
Thanks for the opportunity to comment. It sounds like your initial meeting with the McCoys went fairly well. I think the suggestions of Sunday brunch, buffet-style lunches, and similar ideas for their business could hopefully benefit both the neighborhood and the restaurant. The idea to develop a "Good Neighbor Agreement" sounds like a good step as well. Their proposed music format of jazz/blues sounds reasonable as well. It's then up to the neighborhood to work with the owners and shape it as customers.
Regarding the letter from the City of Seattle, I found various sections offensive. I disagree with the idea of a locked at all times bathroom and the elimination of a pay phone. The proposed dress code smarts of a violation of the First Amendment and is for me the most offensive statement. I wear jeans and tee-shirts.
Best wishes working the owners. I look forward to hearing more.
Sincerely,
________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Oscar's II Update & response
Andrew- I suppose I think that with some reservations they should be allowed to apply for a "Liquor Lounge" with live music, but in view of their past record, I do not think the police list is too stringent... particularly if the "dress code" only applies to the lounge and not the restaurant.
Good job!
________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: RE: Oscar's II Update
Andrew, Given Oscars' past history with drug use prevention,
I think the Seattle Police Dept. list of 14 requirements is fair
and necessary to prevent a re-occurrence of past problems, if
they are to resume selling liquor. I simply do not trust the McCoys
to be self-policing, because they have had ample past opportunities
to correct the problem and have not. Their liquor license was
suspended twice before it was revoked. Regarding the 14 requirements,
most of these are implemented by all nightclubs. It is expected
that they have security personnel, video cameras, and other tools
for maintaining order and preventing criminal activity. The dress
code is, of course, an additional requirement just for Oscars',
but I think it is necessary if they are serious about attracting
a better clientele and hindering drug trafficking. It would be
a good way of conveying the impression that the "new Oscars'"
is NOT the same place as the "old Oscars'". I heartily
agree with the comments about providing breakfast, lunch, and
dinner menus. As a member of our community, Oscars' must provide
some benefit to the community; the nightclub aspect of Oscars'
is a detraction, not a benefit. Putting the emphasis on food service
would better serve our neighborhood.
________________________________________________________________________________
Andrew,
Thanks for the update.
One area I didn't see addressed by the smaller group was police involvement. At the May 12 meeting of the Miller Park Neighborhood Association, there was a discussion & agreement that crime/drugs was reduced when the police had their "foot patrol" in the Madison area where Oscar's & Deano's are located.
It would seem the "foot patrol" is something the Miller Park Neighborhood Association would request and support...working together with the police who seemed more than willing to assist. Having a "foot patrol" along with changing the music venue & offering more food choices would together make this a truly "win-win" situation for Oscar's and the neighborhood as a whole.
What does the Neighborhood Association think about this request? Would they support it? What would it take to get the police to reinstate the "foot patrol"?
Regards,
________________________________________________________________________________
From **** (by phone):
She would support a "Liquor Lounge" with Added Activities if music was changed to Blues/Jazz or some other format that won't attract the former clientele. She favors avoiding problems by changing music formats, rather than trying to cope with them via a long list of conditions.
Her comments on the Police conditions (using their #'s):
#3: Security personnel should only be required after dinner (i.e. after 8 PM).
#6: The "dummy" camera idea is unworkable now that
we've publicized it. She mentioned that the school buses in her
school district have a few cameras which are rotated among camera
boxes in a large number of school buses. (Would that work here:
share a camera between Twilight Exit, Deano's, Thompsons and Oscar's:
Andrew)
#8: She's ambivalent about payphones and asked where the nearest
ones are (2 outside the tire store, 1 outside the Mexican restaurant).
Business phone should be available to customers in case of emergency
(including others being able to contact customers by the business
phone in case of emergency).
#14: She believes the dress code to be unenforceable.
She encourages the McCoys to get more involved in the Miller
Park Neighborhood Association.
________________________________________________________________________________
To: ataylor@fhcrc.org Subject: Oscar's II
Andrew,
Sorry that this is too late for the meeting, but I did want to respond to your FAX. I don't really care about what type of liquor license they get, but I do think they need to abide by all the conditions outlined in the letter from the Seattle Police Department to the Liquor Board. These all seem like reasonable conditions to me given the gravity of the drug trafficking at Oscar's and the apparent repeated failure to deal with the problem. I think we should support the police on this one.
Thanks for all your work on behalf of the neighborhood.
________________________________________________________________________________
From (phone message, 5/27/99)
All 14 requirements detailed in the SPD letter to WSLCB are reasonable and should be required from a community standpoint as they are all reasonable safeguards.
________________________________________________________________________________
Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 07:14:15 EDT
Dear Andrew, & et.al.,
While I am thoroughly happy with the progress in the negotiations (Good Neighbor Agreement) thus far, there are a couple of items of concern to me and the community at-large.
I think the proposed Community patronization (mixed use) of Oscars II is a plus. What I mean by that is the involvement of the nearby and surrounding religious community in patronization of his establishment. Let the theme be "music". Jazz/Blues during the week, a hunters breakfast at 5:00 am on Saturday mornings, and Sunday's devoted to Gospel Music brunch and dinner.
Remembering such legends as Ray Charles, Ernestine Anderson...The Jazz/Blues should exemplify the African-American theme "Madison Street After Dark," that I'd proposed several years ago. Keeping in step with the needs and desires of the dwindling African-American Community's heritage and past. It's a start in a positive direction!
The "Hunters Breakfast" proposal is something I just thought of, based on reading/reviewing what has been accomplished thus far. I think this would allow an exposure of upstanding African American males to meet, eat, and socialize. This would impact the leftover Friday night set in the event it attracted any undesirables. After a while, it would catch on. This would call for the presence of dignitaries such as Lt. Bailey, myself, clergy, mayor, you, etc. Once this profile is established, the drug and criminal culture will respond accordingly by making themselves scarce. They are very uneasy in he presence of such characters. A natural process.
Sunday's should provide a place as proposed for the Seniors patronization and the religious community to duplicate a similar setting to the afore mentioned. This would more than likely consist of an overlap of patrons from the all three factions thus giving Oscars II a desired appeal for the planned neighborhood?
The problem of drugs is deep seated in the community from the 60's & 70's. I have in the past offered solutions, and to this day have yet to be contacted. Oscar & Barbara did contact me once to appear at their hearing. However, due to my academic endeavors, I was unable to comply. This is still the case at the University of Washington. I will, in the near future, appeal to you and the community for your support and backing in my personal educational pursuit for the benefit of all.
Unless we put the axe at the root, we will only get the same
results on Madison as well as other isolated pockets of this fine
city. Let's combine forces, ideas, and actions to truly make this
a win-win situation for all.
Even the drug addicts, and dealers. The only way to impact a change
in their economic behavior, is through the law and the religious
community. Not necessarily in that order though! God Bless!
Miller Park Association, sending you my feedback on Oscar's
II. I agree that drug traffickers should be reported if attempting
to come into the place. I also firmly believe that Police should
patrol the area, especially at Closing Time. Oscar's has been
in the past a very quiet and interesting place to go and sit down
and have a cocktail until these past incidents happened and I'm
sure that they can be curbed by taking these steps to keep it
quiet. I agree that you would sign the agreement in the next couple
of weeks.
I believe that the bad guy should stay out
of people's businesses all over the city and with the help of
the Police Dept. I believe it can happen.