SB City Council joins lawsuit against Hudson Theater
Stacia Glenn, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/19/2010 06:30:13 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO - The taxpayers have a better chance of recovering money the Police Department has spent responding to calls at the Hudson Theater after the City Council voted Tuesday to join the lawsuit.
The City Attorney's Office filed a lawsuit against the popular nightclub in mid-December, seeking to shut its doors for a year.
Police and city officials say the Hudson has become a burden on police services, allows underage party-goers to stay after curfew and attracts drug deals and violence.
The council unanimously voted in closed session Tuesday night to join the lawsuit. Councilman Tobin Brinker was absent for the vote.
"The city is in a better position legally to recover that money," said City Attorney James F. Penman. "The extraordinary law enforcement services that have been deployed to the Hudson are very significant and the city may be able to recover that money."
Police are still tallying a final cost to seek in court, adding up the number of officers who respond and the amount of time spent at the nightclub.
From August 2008 to August 2009, police were called to the Hudson 303 times, including once for a fatal shooting. That is three times higher than the club with the second-most calls for service.
Undercover narcotics officers said they made more than 40 undercover buys and could have bought more but ran out of money.
Roger Diamond, an attorney representing the nightclub's owners, has said the number of calls is overblown because the same lady calls to complain about loud music.
The city is seeking a temporary injunction to close the club for a year.
Staff writer Andrew Edwards contributed to this report.
Allow me to quote part of this
"'The city is in a better position legally to recover that money," said City Attorney James F. Penman. "The extraordinary law enforcement services that have been deployed to the Hudson are very significant and the city may be able to recover that money.'"
Okay now just what money are they going to recover? The money that they spent at the club? I think not. They are not the people spending money at the club or are they? The city should be happy with the amount that the Hudson is required to pay.
Another thing is this is a safe environment for teens to be at. If you shut the Hudson down, then there are more teens that are going to be at house parties meaning there is more teens that are going to be drinking, buying and doing drugs at these parties. I am sure if security is increased, the problems described above will not happen.