Comments for Bar Fight at http://www.theind.com , comment 1 to 38 out of 20 comments http://www.theind.com Tue, 21 May 2013 07:20:17 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4995 ITS A GOOD THING DA CRAFTY CHIEF DID'NT HAVE TO SELL HISSELF FOR THE POST OF CHIEF, HE CAN'T MESH FIVE WORDS TOGETHER... TA GET HIS THOUGHT ACROSS, AND WHEN HE DOES, "HE'S HAD TO GAG ON THEM WORDS....... - NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:51:57 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4891 EVERYTHING" AND EVERYONE HAS A PRICE! ASK ANY POLITICIAN YOU KNOW.... - NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN : Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:37:23 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4801 Have you ever walked down MARKET STREET in GALVESTON TEXAS, the police don't patrol their and only respond after the fact!!!!!!! I think the boys in blue should be issued black uniforms (VERY INTIMIDATING)and, issue ah rotweiler to each police in black, they would gain confidence and not mass huddle together in fear of the drunk JUVE'S and the HOMELESS VAGRANTS. OH $ a Q-BEAM for secruity in the DARK ! AND maybe ah SHOGUN SWORD and ah LANCE FOR THE PONY PATROL. - NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN : Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:13:39 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4795 realitychecks--yes, I do remember that concern being brought up, and I have to admit that I didn't fully understand it at the time. But it would seem to me that people who make a living at "planning and zoning" could have foreseen some of this? What did LCG pay for outside consultants for planning and zoning over the last few years? What responsibility does the Planning and Zoning Commission bear for these problems? Can we all at least agree that the concentration of bars, homeless shelters, arts districts/museums, etc. in the downtown area has made this problem? And can we all agree that there is a very serious problem when a city's police department freely admits that it cannot properly police a very small area like this, even though it has horses, manpower, and extra money kicked in from bar owners? - ragin_cajun Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:50:52 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4793 How about trying this? Patrol downtown area more frequently by LPD, and enforce the underage drinking problem we all know exists downtown. Let the cops and force the cops to patrol secluded dark spots in the district/area, and do more random checks on bars for serving to minors. As for the liter problem, it exists not only along Jefferson St. on Sundays, but in several more areas of the parish throughout the week. However, I am certainly more concerned about 17 and 18 yr olds drinking at places like Nitetown and Marleys. Just watch the crowds coming of these establishments and you will draw your own conlusions based on your observations. There are Many problems downtown, and I don't forsee a whole lot being done anytime soon. Shame on you all! BTW, I will not even get into the disucssion on " The Strip" area. That's just a major mess the city turns it back to. - Downtown Resident2 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:43:58 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4790 Cajun: From the NGO debate **************** Do you also remember the debate that supposed "non-profits" bring in criminals from all over the country and pay nothing for security? Even with misleading stats, like misspelling "olivier" with "oliver" and non designated addresses like "000 block of homeless", the agencies bring a lot of problems to the community while supposedly helping the individual. Clustering of too many "helpful" agencies (what a painful joke) near downtown is a serious problem. Gulliani got it right and broke up the large clusters of permissive agencies and now New York is safer. - realitychecks Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:20:40 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4780 People this is south Louisiana... Lets get real its party town stop making us oay for the cops because its extorsion..and let all have fun...Craft make your boys patrol the problem areas where the lights are dim and stop harrasing the people who wanna come downtown and have a good time....If everyone gets the stick out their ass maybe we can get somewhere... Oh yes I am a downtown owner, worker etc, etc.... - To much talk Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:03:09 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4779 Then the police chief needs to enforce the law. It's just that simple. I well remember in times past when police would send minors into stores and gas stations to buy alcohol and suspend liquor licenses if the kids came out with beer. They should do the same thing downtown. But what we get instead is let's raise fees. It's a consistent pattern of behavior from LCG. - ragin_cajun Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:24:53 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4777 Another Concerned Patron who posted on 12-9 is so right. These club owners actually believe they have a majority 21 plus crowd in their establishments. Come on guys. One karma like experience of a club not too long ago started serving the 18-20 crowd because they weren't making it on the 21 and older crowd. Another big bar that has a night town like atmosphere runs around 95 percent with the 18-20 crowd in their bar. Counting the Mollys or the Chee Weez once a month as your older crowd doesn't wash either. Mr. Craft has already kindly pointed that out. Having worked in Lafayette in the hospitality industry and more recently in the downtown area as a bartender I can tell you first hand that the 18-20 crowd is keeping the lights on. Having a night off a while back me and my friends were able to spend some time at Marleys where of course there's never any underage drinking or fighting. We enjoyed the conversation of four local high school girl cheerleaders. Three were juniors and one was a senior. While we conversed we watched them openly drink and without any hestitation or reservations from the bartender to purchase alcohol throughout the night. These bar owners have a lot to lose if the city enforces no 18-20 year olds in the bars. That is what this all about. Though I do sense a shakedown with the city of the security fees if you back away, the bulk of the problem is the younger crowd. Sorry but I am downtown three to five nights a week. I see it and deal with it. Vagrants and the homeless though they do exist are not the ones causing most of the problems. The next thing you know these guys will be claiming the crowd at the Keg is 25 plus. Far far far from that I promise you. Try 17 to 20 and that's being generous. - Another Concerned Downtown Patron and worker Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:59:09 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4768 The government wanted to set up a "big city" entertainment district, but the keystone cops and the small minded politicians still have a "small town" mentality... Chief craft said his officers downtown have "grown complacent" and on most occasions "do not want to be there" and he wants to add more manpower !! I know as a business owner if my employees were complacent and didnt want to be at work, i would just do like chief craft and ADD more employees !!! WTF ?!?!?!?! If these geniuses ran a business instead of just pulling a check from our taxes (that is guaranteed despite their performance) they would be out of business by the end of the year !!! at what point do we hold the police / politicians accountable for their job ??? - simpleman Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:10:37 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4766 Ay, the only time EL PRESIDENTE has been DOWNTOWN is when he is waving to the MINIONS during the Mardi Gras PARADES $ the CHRISTMAS PARADE. JODU'NT was seen shopping at the rivah ranch, Saddidy, he did'nt have any coupons in his hands. - NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN Sun, 13 Dec 2009 02:11:21 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4738 Don Bertrand--"Maybe we need to establish an entertainment district and set it aside from everything else.” That's what "we" already did, right? It's called "Downtown Lafayette", and nobody likes it. Actually, there's 2 "entertainment districts" in Lafayette, now. The original one was McKinley Street Strip. If creating an "arts district" actually got us a second downtown "entertainment district", what's purposefully creating an "entertainment district" gonna get us? A new "red light district"?! No, I think LCG has given us enough "entertainment districts", "festivals", "culture", and block parties. If our "quality of life" gets any better, I don't think I could stand it! :) - ragin_cajun Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:30:49 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4737 All my homies hang at the mexican restaurant, LAFONDA'S! It's a scene free of juve's and k-9 units, " VIVA LAFONDA'S "........ Mature adults graviate to this oasis to escape from the juve, CHUCKY CHEESE set at the downtown HIP HOP joints and the yuppieville RIVAH RANCH wannabe nouveau glitterazza, in there designer HUSH PUPPIES wid da vultures on the high stools catchin ah crick in there neck tryin ta scope everry male comes thru da door............MAIS, DA RENTS DUE........ - NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN : Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:27:29 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4734 Judging from the amount of trash on the streets and sidewalks on Sunday mornings it looks as though business is thriving for the bars downtown. I think a fair way to "tax" the bars for extra police patrols is for each bar to mark their "to go" cups with their logo. When the trash is picked up on Sundays, cups are counted and bars are charged accordingly. The more trash your patrons deposit on the streets and sidewalks the more you pay. Party on people....but pick up your trash! Your favorite watering hole is depending on you. - Trashed on Sunday Morning Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:08:09 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4733 I found it interesting that a comment was made that officers demand their pay in cash. Its easy to solve. Issue a 1040 form to the officer coordinating the schedule, using HIS SS# and you will see a rash of SS#s coming in. Officers should be paid by check and Chief Craft should demand it. The mayor should demand it. Its just good business sense and it just makes sense for the department and city administration. To insist on cash just adds to the suggestion that is this whole operation isn't on the "up and up" and I don't like anything that has to do with police officers and is not completely transparent. - Morrow Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:57:02 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4731 The most high profile crime I can remember in the Downtown area was committed by Lafayette Police on some restauranteurs. Are those restauranteurs today being forced to pay a fee for security? I wonder how they feel about all this. Also, I think that LCG is very inconsistent on this issue. From the NGO debate I remember that tax payer dollars go to pay for Festivals International and Mardi Gras Parades because that's a "quality of life issue" and "they generate more tax revenue than they receive so it's a good investment". But the bar owners for some reason are not seen in the same light? Why should they have to pay a fee for increased security when Festival International doesn't? How much tax revenue do these bars generate? Maybe Don Bertrand could get behind the bar owners if they booked more Cajun bands? Maybe Durel would help the bar owners if he were reminded how much sales and property taxes they pay? - ragin_cajun Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:50:35 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4730 If bar owners (such as those interviewed in the cover story) are convinced that 18 to 20 year olds are not making alcohol purchases in their establishment, why should they have reservations about denying them access? Sure they'll alienate a demographic, but in theory they won't be losing any money, right? It's fun to hang out with young, attractive people downtown, but not at the expense of businessmen trying to make an honest living. Sucks for the kiddies, but it's really not my problem. Options: • Lower the age (stipulating that doing so will decrease necessary policing fees, if this even makes sense) • All bars will have to start charging covers. I don't think bar owners want either of these, but I see the former happening first. Nobody wants to charge a cover — unless you're Karma and have to pay a small country's GDP in electric bills so you can maintain a Clueless Bachelor decor. Places like The Green Room should never have to charge a cover for the simple fact that they don't need to. It doesn't cost anything to argue with aging hipsters over which Animal Collective album is the best to shroom to. - 20-Something Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:26:56 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4703 Hey Deevolution, Don't we already pay a sales tax to fund the police. Wouldn't they already be working on a Friday or Saturday night? The cops like to hand out in front of City Bar. I haven't seen one near Sadie's unless they were arresting someone. The problem is THE HOMELESS SHELTER and St. Joseph's Diner. Do you think that people become homeless because of bad luck. No, it is because of bad decisions. These aren't people who fell on hard times. Go get the real back ground of one of these bums and you will see a history of crime and drug abuse. Increasing fees or taxes to fund police for downtown is lunacy. Lafayette is one of the fastest growing towns in the United States! We need a police force to keep up with the growth. We also need to move the Shelters out of the down town area. Why do you think that so many bars are popping up in the river ranch area? There are two hopping bars in RR and yet no violent crimes. Whats missing? The Down Town area and RR both serve booze, both stay open until two, both give out to go cups, and both let in people over eighteen. The only missing factor in RR is the bums. Get rid of the bums, get rid of the problem. - Solutions? Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:16:45 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4702 Make it a sales tax and apply it to everyone downtown, bars, retails, services. . . everyone The problem applies to all of downtown, both sides benefit from the other and both sides suffer because of the other. Everyone downtown should pay the sales tax and/or property taxes in that area to support police protection in that area. That non-profit with the troublesome constituency is a city government favoritemso don't count on any changes there. In my opinion their crowd is not the criminals anyway, those guys are too stoned or drunk and lazy to be trouble. The crime comes from criminals smart enough to go where the low hanging fruit is and that's currently downtown. Guns or butter? - yomamaspajamas Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:03:40 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/5318-bar-fight#comment-4697 "Craft disputes claims that his officers idle in groups. They gather on the side of Dwyer’s at the start of the shift, he says, to discuss strategy and receive their assignments; then they fan out, and each is charged with policing a specific area of Jefferson Street." I respect the job that Lafayette PD have to do but I have to dispute this claim by Chief Craft. On 12/5/09 at 1am I was passing by a group of Lafayette PD who were grouped together near Dwyer's talking and laughing. They were not "discussing strategy." This is not the first time that I have witnessed Lafayette PD doing this downtown. If I were a downtown Lafayette bar owner, I would take pictures of Lafayette PD doing this and then present them to Chief Craft. - De-evolution is real Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:24:44 +0100