Unfair Park from p4 Albright said they offered a compromise with the city after forming the Dallas Association of Club Executives. “We offered to settle, and we did settle 23 pending pieces of litigation — state, federal and administrative — in exchange for peaceful coexistence,” he said. “That’s exactly what we did, and that has held solid for the last 17 years.” Albright called the business the most regulated industry in Dallas and said if the city is trying to go after bad apples in the industry, there are already ways to do that. He’s confident this is a fight that Dallas can’t win. “One of the bases that the Supreme Court has found to strike down these ordinances is that they’re content based,” he told the Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee. “I’m gonna tell you, you’re gonna lose.” But the proposal was brought to the Public Safety Committee in December when the Dallas Police Department showed data it said supported requiring the businesses to close from 2 a.m. until 6 a.m. Last March, the department created a “club” task force in its Northwest Patrol Division. Eight officers were tasked with tackling increased shootings and other violence crime that occurred after midnight. DPD claims many of these crimes happen at or near SOBs that operated between midnight and 6 a.m. These statistics also included the 500 feet surrounding the properties. According to DPD, about two-thirds of violent crime recorded by the task force occurred between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. The department also cited studies suggesting all types of offenses occurred at higher rates in the immediate vicinity of SOBs. “The type of business this is does not matter to us,” DPD Chief Garcia said. “This is based on data. We recognize that this is a legal business in the city of Dallas.” Garcia added that the existing legal remedies to crack down on bad apples in the industry take too long, which is why he says Dallas needs this change. The proposal went to full council for discussion on Jan. 5. Two days later, Mayor Eric Johnson told council members he’d put the proposal on their Jan. 26 voting agenda. “We must continue to put public safety first in Dallas,” Johnson said. “Through a ‘kitchen sink’ approach to public safety in 2021, we achieved a reduction in violent crime that bucked national trends.” But to become the safest city in America, Johnson said, “We must take our efforts to the next level in 2022.” To him and some others on the council, that means listening to Chief Garcia and his department on how to handle the SOBs. “Chief Garcia and his police command staff have presented a compelling, data-based case for restricting SOBs’ operating hours, which will make our city safer and put Dallas in line with surrounding cities and other major Texas cities,” Johnson said. “The chief has done exactly what we 6 have asked of him. We have requested clear plans to address violent crime where it occurs. We have asked police commanders to make data-driven decisions. We have Mike Brooks called for solutions that would alleviate the burdens on our police department by eliminating the need for a police response. This plan accomplishes all of those objectives.” There’s no denying crime has taken place around SOBs. Early last June, Dallas SWAT were at a standoff with a man named Julio Guerrero. After nearly nine hours, the 28-year-old suspect surrendered. Described by Garcia as a “very violent individual,” Guerrero was wanted for the May 2 shooting death of a man who was found in the alley behind the Dallas nightclub Tiger Cabaret. The victim, Francisco Villanueva Rodriguez, was 35 and had five kids, according to CBS-DFW. He’d been shot in the face. But Guerrero allegedly would go on to “ ” Being able to work after hours has helped me raise my kids in the best way I can. - hostess Angelica Batrez commit more violence. According to WFAA, he opened fire on a vehicle at a Dallas gas station eight days later, an incident that also left a 3-year-old girl in critical condition. Rocky Carlson, the general manager of Tiger Cabaret, said that incident, as well as a 2020 drive-by shooting outside the club, were random acts of violence. He insists that his establishment is committed to safety and its overall track record has been relatively clean, with no other issues since last year’s homicide. “We haven’t had one call to 911; we haven’t had one arrest, anything,” he said. “I don’t see how we can be part of this huge crime wave that’s going on, but we don’t even have any problems. We have zero problems.” At 54 years old, Carlson has heard it all before. The uninformed might call him a “loser” and the dancers “trash,” but Tiger’s entertainers are well-spoken and classy, he said. Carlson doesn’t drink, smoke or use drugs. As a manager for nearly 30 years, he’s always enjoyed working nights so that he could be there for his kids during the day, including to coach them in sports. Many SOBs are haunted by stigma, but Carlson points out that violence also occurs at regular nightclubs. Last month for Carlson’s birthday, he and his friends went to Citizen in Deep Ellum and witnessed a man getting shot “literally 5 feet from [them].” Carlson also says some of the crime that the city includes in its SOB total occurs at other businesses within a 500-foot “buffer zone.” For Tiger Cabaret, their zone includes two motels and a pawnshop, he said. Cops are regularly called to the Lamplighter Motel a couple doors down, and the nearby pawnshop also sees its fair share of crimes. “The pawnshop has had at least three robberies in the last year. They go in there at gunpoint and hold these places up,” Carlson said. “How are we responsible for what happens at the pawnshop 150 feet from us? I mean, we’re not.” Criminals will always find other places to go, Carlson said; they don’t look down at their watches and head home just because it’s 2 a.m. Instead, they’ll continue to drive around wreaking havoc or stopping by a house party. Carlson insists that Tiger and the other SOBs aren’t responsible for a crime wave hitting Dallas. Carlson said the ordinance will effectively put thousands of people out of Tiger Cabaret General Manager Rockey Carlson says the club is not a reason for any recent crime waves in Dallas. work. Tiger employs roughly 115 people, including 78 dancers. He also believes that business will drop by around 80%; on a recent Thursday night from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., for instance, they only served 12 patrons. “We’re not going to be able to keep the doors open,” he said. Carlson says he supports the chief of police, who he knows has a difficult job; in fact, he added, he “roots for less crime.” But Carlson believes that the proposed ordinance is little more than a political stunt. How can crime go down at these clubs when there isn’t any to begin with? “To me, we’re the easiest target because nobody ever stands up for our industry. Straight up,” he said. “Nobody ever stands up for an SOB.” At City Hall last week, when the new hours went to a vote, several people in the industry told City Council members that the change would threaten their livelihoods and urged them to vote against it. Angelica Batrez, a hostess at XTC Cabaret, wore a “Save Dallas Strip Clubs” T-shirt as she spoke to the City Council. “Being able to work after hours has helped me raise my kids in the best way I can,” Batrez said. In response to employee fears about cut hours, City Council member Jaynie Schultz asked what types of services Dallas could provide to those affected by the code change. City staff said they would help them seek employment and skills development through its Small Business Center and other departments. Narvaez said he has some issues with how this made its way to City Council. He felt it was rushed. “When we rush policy, we get bad policy,” Narvaez said. “We’re >> p8 FEBRUARY 3–9, 2022 DALLAS OBSERVER CLASSIFIED | MUSIC | DISH | CULTURE | UNFAIR PARK | CONTENTS dallasobserver.com
