Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Mayor suspends club's entertainment license

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD Mayor Charles Ryan said his two-week suspension of a popular Worthington Street bar's entertainment license was his way of saying that criminal activities would not be tolerated in the city's Entertainment District.

Frank Caruso, the attorney for the Shadow Lounge's owner Paul Ramesh, said the mayor's decision was "highly unprecedented" and "well over the top in this case."

Caruso told Reminder Publications that he would be meeting with his client to determine if he is going to appeal the decision to Superior Court.

Ryan said he thought the suspension was a "modest penalty."

While the mayor expressed sympathy for the owner, he said, "This is where I've got to be...Clearly criminal assault is not acceptable behavior."

"It's clear to me I have to play a stronger regulatory role," he added.

He added the reputation of every establishment in the area could be affected by one or two acts of violence.

In Springfield, the mayor's office controls the issuing of entertainment licenses. A bar or restaurant must have a license for something such as a television set, much less a dance floor, a dee jay or live performers.

Two incidents of assault and battery in the club in May prompted a hearing before the Board of License Commissioners on Thursday. The Board found there was a violation for one of the two incidents and issued a two-day suspended suspension for it. If there are no other violations before Jan. 1, 2007, the club will not have to serve the two-day suspension.

Board Chair Peter Sygnator noted the club had a reputation for order and that the two unrelated incidents both of which involved a woman using a beer bottle to assault another woman were highly unusual for the club.

One of the incidences resulted in an arrest. The case is still pending.

Caruso said the club's response was to add more security personnel, switch to all paper or plastic glasses and eliminate the glass beer bottles with the new aluminum bottles.

The Shadow Lounge has a dee jay and television sets. During the two weeks it can not have either in operation.

Caruso told the Board and the mayor during the meeting that club owners in the Entertainment District would like to meet with the mayor and Police Commissioner Edward Flynn about forming a task force that would address policing issues in the area.

Ryan did not respond to Caruso's suggestion.



***

After the meeting Ramesh said he would close during the suspension that date of which has yet to be determined and that he was considering an appeal of the ruling.

"Is he going to close down the schools when the kids get in a fight?" Ramesh asked.

Ryan has attended two Board of License Commissioners meetings and both involved decisions on issues involving Ramesh. The mayor opposed Ramesh's application for a new liquor license to create a large dance club in a building near the federal building on Main Street.

"I can't read the mayor's mind," Caruso said of why Ryan has only appeared only at meetings involving Ramesh.