Bay Street nightlife showing new growth? COJ and JSO to the rescue

[Driven1]

Interesting, the code inspection people closed down a good chunk of the city's gay bars after the following article was published.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,2166.0.html

like which ones? 

[Driven1]

lol - good post Shelton.  after reading the info as presented here (I have not seen the other side yet), it does seem that this was a pretty ignorant, petty and focused attack on a relatively harmless and suprisingly successful nighttime downtown business.

[gatorback]

What does Equality Now and the Human Rights campain think about the raiding of "gay" bars in jacksonville?

[downtownparks]

I am curious to see the actual police report. If in fact a small amount of pot and a few minor code issues were the catalyst for the DART, then I whole heartedly agree its ridiculous.

[Driven1]

here is the only thing Jax Confidentialhad to say about the Metro closing...

Weeks ago, we heard rumors that the Metro at Willowbranch Avenue and College Street was closed by the City for building code infractions (none of those rumors were ever confirmed), after a brief hiatus the club re-opened several weeks ago following "renovations".

[Jerry Moran]

On Saturday morning I telephoned a high source at JSO about the DART program.  He advised that it is a tip / complaint based program.  A response is made based on the number and quality of the complaints.

Here is an outline of the DART Program from COJ.net:

Drug Abatement Response Team (DART)
DART Hotline 632-5567

Chronic drug dealing and other illegal activities cause neighborhood deterioration. By the same token, blighted conditions often precede drug houses and their associated activities.

The Jacksonville Drug Abatement Response Team (DART) was established in January 1996 to combat illegal drugs in Jacksonville by focusing on the property where drug activity flourishes.  Working with landlords/property owners, the team develops strategies and marshals resources to reduce drug activity.

The team has at its core the Municipal Code Compliance Division, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the Building Inspections Division.  It also can call on the resources of Community Services, Animal Care and Control, Community Development, JEA, Public Utilities, the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, the Division of Hotels and Restaurants, the Property Appriaser's Office, the Office of General Counsel, the Department of Children and Families, the Fire Marshall's office, and the State Attorney.

All property owners have an obligation to maintain properties in a way that fosters community pride and shows respect for all the residents. One neglected property on a block encourages deterioration which spreads rapidly through the surrounding area.

Landlord/property owner actions include
- bringing property up to code
- tenant screening
- cooperating with neighbors
- making physical improvements to the property

If a landlord/property owner is uncooperative, DART may apply Florida Public Nuisance Statute 823.05, which provides that buildings used for drug activities are public nuisances and damages may be recovered from the property owner.

While the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office are committed to controlling crime and preventing the resulting decline in property values, they cannot turn things around in Jacksonville without the active participation of property owners, tenants, and neighbors.
   1) Landlords must learn to manage properties to prevent illegal activity and must make a commitment to immediate action when it begins.
   2) Neighbors must learn to recognize signs of illegal activity and report it. Owners and neighbors are encouraged to work with DART to form Neighborhood Watch groups and become familiar with their neighborhoods.
   3) The City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office have intensified efforts aimed at drug house activities.

Property owners, whether they reside in or rent the property, have an obligation to the neighborhood where the property is located to ensure that the property is an asset to the community not a liability, enhancing not diminishing quality of life within the area. If we all work together, the majority of Jacksonville's neighborhoods which provide desirable living places will continue to do so, and troubled areas will become safe, family neighborhoods.

In consideration of the above, it appears that complaints were made against TSI by someone prior to the raid.  All one has to do is call the DART Hotline.  It could be anyone from a disgruntled employee or customer, concerned citizen, or business competitor.

By the way, De Real 'Ting Cafe was DART'ed last night (6/28).  A DART and condemnation sign were taped to it's door early this morning.

[konstantconsumer]

strange that they would hit da real 'ting on a saturday night.  fridays are their busy nights.

[jaxtrader]

I posted this message to JSO's comments page this am... As a downtown resident, I'm writing to express my extreme displeasure with the drug raid conducted at TSI this friday last. I cannot express the frustration of living in a city with a paralyzing  level of violent crime and watching taxpayer funds being wasted in this manner. Everyone at JSO knows that the element responsible for our epidemic of murders and carjackings is not hanging out at indie rock venues on Bay St. Not only is this an egregious waste of our money, it is also a real blow to efforts at building a vibrant downtown, since TSI will now be closed indefinitely despite the minescule amount of drugs found. I do congratulate you all on your succesful confiscation of one fake ID and a nickel bag of weed. I will sleep sounder in my bed knowing that 19 year old hipster and his $5 of marijuana are securely behind bars.  Seriously, if you want to actually combat crime, I suggest raiding Da Real Ting- there you will find an ample supply of illegal weapons and narcotics. Then again, the crowd at TSI is so much less intimidating, no?

[thelakelander]

It looks like the JSO is hanging out and raiding the wrong spots.  While TSI and Da Real Ting were getting raided, hookers were freely working the corners of Main Street with not a cop in sight.

[Lunican]

Yeah not to mention the daily murder.

Foul play suspected in Jacksonville death
Posted: Sunday, June 29th, 2008 at 7:06 pm

Residents of a Jacksonville neighborhood told police Sunday they heard gunfire several hours before the body of a man who lived nearby was found lying outside.

About 5 a.m., the body of Douglas Lucas Jr., 39, was found in the 400 block of Woodbine Street by a passerby, said homicide Sgt. Derrick Lewis of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Lewis said Lucas’ last known address was in the 600 block of the same street.

Neighbors told police they heard gunfire in the area about 9 p.m. Saturday. Foul play is suspected, Lewis said.

[thebrokenforum]

So is this the hyped-up, all-problem-solving Jacksonville Journey in action? Utilizing a raid to shut down a couple of clubs and toss a 19-year-old in the clink for a little dope and a fake I.D., meanwhile the blood continues to flow down the city's gutters? Well brav-the-hell-O, Mayor! This is going to be the best year ever! I can feel it...

[Lunican]

JSO's only solves 16.7% of reported crimes has over 1,000 unsolved murders.

Today, we understand that Jacksonville has over 1,000 unsolved cold case murders. Some of those killers may be contributing to our having Florida's highest per capita murder rate.

In addition to the large number of unsolved cold cases, we only resolve about 50 of the 100 new murders annually.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/012706/opl_20925091.shtml

[thebrokenforum]

2007 Stats by County:

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/FSAC/UCR/2007/cnty_annual07.pdf

[Lunican]

It looks like JSO increased their clear rate to 18.1% for 2007, unfortunately every single type of crime listed has increased. A 7.7% increase in the crime index.

Drugs and building code violations are not listed though.

[Jerry Moran]

It looks like the JSO is hanging out and raiding the wrong spots.  While TSI and Da Real Ting were getting raided, hookers were freely working the corners of Main Street with not a cop in sight.

JSO, DABT, Code Enforcement and the Fire Marshal most always are responding to complaints filed with them.  Apparently, complaints  against the clubs were lodged with at least one of these agencies.

If there are hookers on Main Street, and you see them, it is your civic duty to call the JSO and report the situation.  The JSO will respond to every call it receives.  If enough calls are logged concerning a certain address or activity, the JSO will effect a "raid".  It is unlikely that the weekend's DART action was based on a single complaint about the targeted establishments.