Restrictions were too harsh
Imagine a nightclub where no live or DJ-controlled music is allowed, where no “happy hours” are permitted, where dancing is prohibited, where the doors close at midnight and where there are so many guards that the vibe is more prison-like than a place to have fun and unwind. Does that sound like a place where you would go to enjoy an evening? Probably not, but those were the terms forced upon Andre Williams when he opened Silk”s this January in Clearlake.
The restrictions were applied by Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) in order for Silk”s to be able to sell alcoholic beverages. But they were written into the permit at the request of Clearlake Chief of Police Allan McClain. Because of problems at nightclubs that were previously operated at the same location as Silk”s, Chief McClain chose a course of heavy initial restrictions.
Some people would have decided against attempting to navigate a new nightclub through its first year while being so hamstrung by all the limitations placed on his business. William”s attorney, Ron Green, said, “He (McClain) should have given Andre a chance to succeed with Silk”s without asking for such restrictive and costly conditions.”
We agree with Green”s assessment. In the current economy it is hard enough for a business to survive these days. But when local law enforcement seems to be against you, too, it makes it that much more difficult.
Our position is that a brand new owner should have been given the benefit of the doubt. Standard restrictions for his liquor license should have been requested. If, after some time went by, Silk”s turned out to be a place where Clearlake police were having to spend an inordinate amount of time and manpower because Williams was not following legal and permit guidelines, then Chief McClain could have returned to ABC to have broader restrictions placed on the establishment.
Because Williams has operated his business with so few problems, on his behalf, at least Chief McClain has agreed to sign off on modifications of Silk”s liquor license with ABC that are less restrictive. We just believe everyone would have been better-served if Chief McClain had followed the old-fashioned system of “Innocent until proven guilty.”
