Lost Password?
No account yet? Register

Games

Arcade
Sudoku

Sections

El-Amin Bakheit: Equal application of the law? PDF Print E-mail
Written by Aqeela El-Amin Bakheit   
Wednesday, 30 December 2009

Andre Williams, a well-known and world-traveled recording artist and business owner for the past 18 years in the city of Clearlake, recently leased with the option to purchase a previously closed bar and grill. The location is highly visible and easily accessible. Mr. Williams owns KMOB, 100.3 FM in Clearlake.


After the contract to lease the bar and grill was made Mr. Williams applied for a liquor license transfer from Alcohol Beverage and Control (ABC). However, numerous restrictions were placed on his license which will highly impact his ability to run his business as intended.


Mr. Williams' desire is to host live entertainment geared toward adults 35 and over. Anyone who has had the pleasure of attending one of his concert's can attest to the smooth vocal and very rhythmic and melodious tenor of his voice. The ambiance is always sophisticated, and attracts and caters to the middle and upper class crowds, only.


Yet, Mr. Williams' request to have the restrictions lifted from his license was met with much resistance from Chief Allan McClain.


According to McClain the restrictions were placed on the license by ABC because of problems that occurred at the business location.


Mr. Williams, with the assistance of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), has attempted to reason with McClain to lift the restrictions on live music and other restrictions as well.


The NAACP believes that Mr. Williams has been singled out since other similar type businesses in the city of Clearlake enjoy live music, utilize disc jockeys, have happy hours, and remain open until 2 a.m. We also believe that Mr. Williams has been unduly singled out and held responsible for what occurred at that location prior to his lease agreement.


On Dec. 10, 2009, Lake County Branch President Aqeela El-Amin Bakheit and Vice President Rick Mayo spoke before the Clearlake City Council on behalf of Mr. Williams. They spoke about the continued need for civil rights and social justice protections, the unfairness in the process and procedures of restrictions placed on Mr. Williams’ license, the overt unfairness to deny Mr. Williams’ ability to compete against like businesses in Clearlake, and the long history of business conducted at the same location for more than six decades. An ABC representative visited Mr. Williams’ business location on or about Dec. 14, 2009, and instead of lifting any of the restrictions added additional restrictions to his license.


Mr. Williams is currently in the process of circulating a petition to gather signatures in support of live entertainment at his new bar and grill location. Councilman Roy Simons’ request to have Mr. Williams' concerns over restrictions to his license be agendized for discussion before the city council as quickly as possible was met with opposition by City Administrator Dale Neiman.


Recently the NAACP became aware of documents that show Chief McClain requested that ABC place the restrictions on Mr. Williams’ license even though McClain stated in previous communications with the NAACP and Mr. Williams that he had nothing to do with any of the restrictions.


And finally, the law should be equally applied to all.

 

Aqeela El-Amin Bakheit is president of the Lake County Branch of the NAACP.

Trackback(0)
Comments (15)Add Comment
feedSubscribe to this comment's feed
Andre...
written by herb, December 31, 2009
...has a long history of making positive contributions to the City of Clearlake.
The attitude of Dale Neiman and a majority of the City of the Council seems to be that outside corporations like Lowe's and Wal-Mart are deserving of the their full and enthusiastic support while small local merchant's like Mr. Williams are going to be subjected to opposition and hostility.
We are overdue for some new forward thinking elected officials in this town.
...
written by yellowwing, December 31, 2009
Mr. Williams also has a history with creditors...and not all positive.

But of course, you just had to play the race card....when at first you fail to get your way try, try and then throw in the NAACP.

There have been a number of businesses who have received 'limited' ABC permits in this county....didn't see any of them crying discrimination based on race.
Tribe of the forked tongue
written by Hemetil, December 31, 2009
Amazing how people of the racist mindset are quick to cry foul/race card even when the cards are clearly being dealt from the bottom of the deck. How dare you make libelous speculations about someone's credit other than your own. What other businesses that you claim you know about have been subject to limited permits? Public domain facts are required here, not smoke and mirrror allegations. Wake up folks, it is not 1955 and Clearlake is not another country. As has been stated before, Konocti Harbour Spa and Resort, though not in the city of Clearlake, was allowed to operate with rogue security, DUI's on the premesis resulting in DEATH, frequent underage drinking, open drug use on the premises and at best received a temporary suspension of alcohol sales, not even full closure. The County of Lake economy is based on back room dopey deals. Sucks, big time. (Oui, Oui!)
...
written by Clearlake1, December 31, 2009
ITs amazing how everyone so quickly forgets what happened at the location in the past... After it became the "spot" with dance DJing in the front and hispanic music in the back and the CLPD there every weekend on some accustions having to taser and peper spray those who were out of control. I dont believe that is is far to limit the license I believe that either give it or dont, but the reputaion this town has for bars even the ones currently open is not to great they are all dives.
The race card is getting old.
written by bearer, December 31, 2009
It would seem at some point people would tire of always having to be the victim of some mass conspiricy made up by the NAACP and its democrat mentors.

Where is the pride in ones race where one can stand up to the system as a man and not a racial victim?

Bearer - discrimination
written by superstarr60, January 03, 2010
comes in many forms. When people are victimized by the system they should never complain. Just accept wrongs committed towards them...huh? As for the NAACP they certainly don't have to make up any conspiricies, lol. When blatanent actions of those in power violate their rights they don't have to roll over and take it. First of all this situation with Mr. Willaims is not about race. - It is about fairness and equality. If you didn't have such a closed mind perhaps you could see that. Anyone can be a victim of a system creates double standards. Here is a way you can educate yourself, try this link...www.NAACP.org.
By the way NAACP has never been a black organization from it's inception. Ignorance and stupidity are mindsets of fools.
educate yourself
written by bearer, January 03, 2010
NAACP was formed as a supportive wing of the Old Democrat Party.

No one said anything other than be a proud black man and fight the system as a man, not a victim.

WHy use the NAACP except as a crutch to either insinuate or claim racial discrimination?

When is the last time you heard of the NAACP standing up for the millions of black babies murdered by the Democrat parties Margret Sanger keep the Blacks under control by killing them wing?

You want to talk about victims of the system read about Marget Sanger http://www.blackgenocide.org/negro.html

Understand the slavery imposed on Blacks by the democrats with the constant victim mentality.

There is no equality in life, there are only those that are smart enough to control, and those that are controlled. It is not a color of the skin issue. It is the he who has the gold rule. Right now, the democrat party is the gold party.
Those that are smart enough to control?
written by Raphael, January 04, 2010
Interesting and very revealing statement! It appears to be the way a lot of people, of all ideological persuasions, sexes and skin colors, indeed think and act.
To acquire control and power over others might require some cleverness, but it also requires a profound lack of true intelligence.
The hyena can catch and control its prey, but can it write a musical symphony? A virus can control your body, but can it think?
We need to shift our consciousness from an idiotic "survival of the fittest" conservative model (amazing how many conservatives are Christians who despise Darwin's theory of evolution, yet use it to validate social Darwinism...do I smell a blatant contradiction here?) to one that would better fit the human heart and soul, based on the apparently revolutionary idea that we should by now be more evolved than a simple virus.
Raphael
written by bearer, January 04, 2010
Just what exactly do you think Pelosi, Reid and Obama are doing other than control?

I state the world as it is.

Control of the poor by welfare system designed to make the black man believe he has no worth other then what the democrats will give him.

Control of poor black mothers by the Murder Inc wing of the democrat party following in the plans of race control thru abortion.

You live in a fantasy world where you spew hatred towards peoples religion, and believe in some utopia where man is not an animal fighting for his place at the top of the food chain.

Truth is, control only works when free people allow themselves to be controlled.

Race card?
written by Olmossback1, January 05, 2010
The National Association for the Advancement of White People, is called the KLAN. In spite of what everyone says, there is little difference between them, and The N.A.A.C.P. or La Raza, other than their point of view. I think they all should be abolished, and considered a street gang.
Come on
written by Longbeard, January 06, 2010
Nowhere did Ms. Bakheit say this this is a racial decision. It seems to be based on what happened on the premises in the past. New management can and should lead to new actions at the place. If you read the restrictions, they appear to be designed to keep the business from opening, or from succeeding. If the police chief claimed no part in the restrictions, and there is documentation showing otherwise, then there is a serious credibility issue there. It appears that this is just another manifestation of certain coucil members in Clearlake that are leading to the total ruin of the city, as they have tried to do for the last 5 or 6 years......
Longbeard you missed a whole paragraph then,
written by bearer, January 06, 2010
On Dec. 10, 2009, Lake County Branch President Aqeela El-Amin Bakheit and Vice President Rick Mayo spoke before the Clearlake City Council on behalf of Mr. Williams. They spoke about the continued need for civil rights and social justice protections, the unfairness in the process and procedures of restrictions placed on Mr. Williams’ license, the overt unfairness to deny Mr. Williams’ ability to compete against like businesses in Clearlake, and the long history of business conducted at the same location for more than six decades.

The bolded statement is either playing the race card.

We are not children here. When the NAACP steps up to make a statement it is infered that some injustice (in this case, as quoted) is being played out.
For Equal Application of the Law
written by laker, January 06, 2010
I haven't seen any reason why Mr. Williams should be denied the opportunity to conduct his business according to his business plan. This should have nothing to do with past history at the establishment when it was owned by other people. Racism directed against Mr. Williams does seem to be a plausible explanation. Give the man a chance to establish his business. If there are problems, let's deal with it then. The NAACP is an honorable organization with an honorable history.
Bearer, where?
written by Longbeard, January 07, 2010
Where did she say this is racial in that paragraph? I hope civil rights and social justice apply to all citizens and not people of certain ethnic backgrounds....
who cares about race! What right is right and whats wrong is wrong.
written by huffdog62, January 17, 2010
The CLPD is full of rejects. Everytime I call them they do and say whatever it takes to not come out. Now the police chief is iterfering with legitiment bussinesses. why? Why not just mail them a police report, the police response to me when someone shot out my car windows. Anyone living in Clearlake knows what a joke our police department is, they show up with bullet proof vest on to walk through the bars, one officer loves to place his hand on his gun as he walks through, they make no attempt to be civil, making everyone uncomfortable and basically ruining bussiness. Its unfortunate that instead stopping tweakers the CLPD is after drinkers, last I checked crank is against the law not alcohol.
Stay out of the bar bussiness. Stop the tweakers!

Write comment
You must be logged in to post a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.

busy
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 December 2009 )
 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]
Powered By Page_Cache by Ircmaxell
Generated in 0.36065912246704 Seconds