Letters

Setting things straight on Demeranville

To the editor:

I would like to take the opportunity to point out numerous incorrect and biased statements in an article written by Ms. Stephanie Searight in the “Going Postal” section of the June 4 – 17 Lagniappe publication.

First: She references a gift shop, which is not a gift shop per se but rather a shop that will feature home accents, apparel and jewelry as well as works by local artists. It is owned and operated by my wife and her partners and will be located at 7 North Conception, not 9 North Conception. Neither the new building owners nor I have any interest in the business other than renovating the space which has been unoccupied for several years.

Second: Neither I personally nor my company are business partners with the new building owner, the Flowers family, from Jackson, Alabama. My company, Helix Construction, is performing the renovation work at the direction of the new building owner. The building owner will locate their Mobile business office at 9 North Conception when the renovation of the space is complete.

Third: There are no plans for a florist to occupy space in the building, much less under the supervision of the Flowers family who are in the business of owning and managing timber. Do you think it’s possible that Ms Searight jumped to an inaccurate conclusion because the new building owners name is “Flowers”?

Ms. Searight finds “the fact that these people are coming in from out of town manipulating the public by violating an existing historical business reprehensible.” Is it not more accurate to say that, in her lack of checking facts before asking the article be printed, that she is guilty of libel? In addition, should not Lagniappe take some responsibility for checking facts before they print articles? Such misstatements could be damaging to the new businesses as well as to the reputations of the individuals involved.

Fourth: Demeranville Florists are not being “kicked out of their store.” They have located new quarters in the former First National Bank Building and their “store” goes with them. Yes, they were asked to move. The only thing left behind is the former physical location of the store, The Park Building, which the new owners have every right to improve and to command new rent structures based upon the increased value of the renovated space.

Until approximately 4-5 years ago nothing had been done to The Park Building in years. It was deteriorating and pigeons were flying and cats were jumping through the building. Thank goodness there are individuals like the Flowers family who are willing to invest their hard earned dollars in redevelopment of structures in the downtown business district as well as the Park Building. Most of these structures have been left to languish over many years and are only suitable for occupancy if renovation efforts can be successful after they are acquired at a fair price based upon their physical condition.

As far as Demeranville Florists is concerned, Billy Yost, who currently manages the business, informed me he did not know Ms. Searight and never heard of Lagniappe before my discussion with him. So, I am confident she is not speaking on behalf of Demeranville Florists or Mr. Yost. I also feel confident that Billy Yost understands that change takes place in every business from time to time and that we truly wish him continued success in his new location in the old First National Bank Building (now referred to as the AmSouth Building).

In conclusion, I trust and ask that Lagniappe take the necessary steps to correct the above referenced incorrect information supplied by Ms. Searight.

Ronald G. La Grange

President

Helix Construction

AEA asks for investigation

An open letter to Mobile County Schools Superintendent Roy Nichols:

Dr. Nichols:

As I have expressed to you before, I have been and remain concerned about the possible use of school system resources for the political benefit of Board President, Fleet Belle. My suspicions were heightened by the recent revelation in this Wednesday’s Press-Register that board attorney Frank Taylor may have helped draft an election complaint against Fleet’s opponent, Levon Manzie. I am also concerned that system employees may have helped create a campaign flier distributed widely by Fleet’s campaign.

Further, according to documents filed with Mobile County Probate Court, members of the Atchison Firm and associated interests such as E.J. Saad and Vince Kilborn have contributed thousands to Fleet’s re-election campaign. As you know, school system legal fees have sky-rocketed since the Atchison Firm became the school system attorneys. The attached chart clearly shows that legal fees have crept near and even surpassed One Million Dollars in recent years – quite an incentive to keep board members like Fleet on the school board and in their pockets.

I sincerely hope, that the election complaint is not some last ditch effort concocted by Fleet and board attorneys to try and save their jobs, but there is evidence to the contrary and I believe you owe it to the tax-payers make absolutely sure that no tax-payer money or resources have been used to help Fleet overcome his abysmal record on the school board (which I remind you includes secret meetings, failure to pay his taxes, administrative expansion, and teacher layoffs).

Therefore, I am requesting that you initiate a thorough investigation into whether or not any school system resources – including board attorneys have been used for Fleet’s political gain. Secondly, though it would not make you very popular with Fleet or Atchison, I again request that you bring before the board any options that may be available to the school system to try and reign in their out of control legal expenses – it’s the right thing to do.

Thanks for all that you do,

Wade Perry

Alabama Education Association

‘A bar moved next to me’

To the Editor:

I am the “concerned citizen” mentioned in the “Hidden Agenda” article in the June 3rd issue of Lagniappe who spoke in front of the City Council on May 27th. I was there on behalf of my neighborhood trying to get a public hearing put on the agenda so we could discuss having the liquor license for Train Days LLC (Bizmark Saloon) at 455 Dauphin St., suspended for having been convicted on May 13th for 3 violations of serving alcohol to minors. I would like to tell my side of the story.

Besides the seriousness of having been convicted of serving alcohol to minors, we also have video of employees and patrons of the bar shown urinating on vehicles (of which the manager was convicted of), drug use, fighting on sidewalks and street, vomiting, destruction of flowers the neighborhood planted and a patron staggering out of the bar and passing out on the sidewalk. There were also incidents of store windows being broken and two vehicles being dented by patrons of this bar.

In the article it was asked if there was a statute of limitations on the vehicle urination since we were asked to wait a while before we brought charges. Yes, there was a 6-month limitation and the charges were brought just a couple of weeks before it ran out.

It was stated in the article that the footage of the DVD had been recorded for well over a year. Actually it was recorded in a 9-month period. They were open almost 6 months before the audio/video camera was installed.

Brad Young, the owner of the building, was interviewed for this article and he said it was not the same owners opening the new bar. But, as of June 1st his name along with his partner’s name are on Train Days LLC (Bizmark Saloon) and Music Box LLC (Alabama Music Box, the new bar). To view this please go to http://probate.mobilecountyal.gov/, click on Records Search, then Search Real Property Records and enter “train days” in Grantor Search. Look at all three records for Train Days LLC. Then go back and enter “music box” in Grantor Search. You will see the same two names on both LLCs.

Remember now, Trains Days LLC has the three convictions for serving alcohol to minors on it, and the new bar (same owners), is opening up using this same liquor license.

Councilman William Carroll was quoted as saying in the article that “as long as the liquor license has different owners on it, I don’t see a problem with it (reopening).” According to the records at Mobile County Probate Court as of June 1st, it does have the same owners on it. (Although ownership may be subject to change as it frequently does in an LLC).

He was also quoted as saying “there were seven incidents in a year’s time (on the DVD). If you recorded any establishment downtown, you’d get the same thing.” This was recorded in a 9-month period, and there were 16 incidents on the DVD. This DVD was edited to only 13 minutes to keep it short; however, we have hours and hours of video containing many more incidents.

It was stated in the article that I had a long, running dispute with the guy who urinated on my van. This is not true. We were shocked to see this on the DVD and could not understand why he would have done this.

The article states that “if you don’t like bars, don’t move next to one.” My family has owned this building for 38 years. I can remember when a furniture store was at 455 Dauphin. I didn’t move next to a bar, a bar moved next to me. Actually, this is a moot point because whether it is a bar, business or resident, regardless of who was there first, we need to all learn to respect each other’s rights.

The article stated, “there have to be limits to noise and urination and vomiting and other drunken tomfoolery.” As to urination, such an act would have to be eye witnessed and reported to law enforcement officers. As to noise, limits cannot be placed by law enforcement officers; this is the responsibility of the city council.

In closing I would like to say my neighbors and I are proud of our neighborhood and enjoy the uniqueness of downtown living. Several years ago we had a bar on our block that caused no problems whatsoever and we welcome businesses like this. We only want to see justice done by punishing corporations and their owners who serve alcohol to minors and allow unlawful behavior to go on unchecked.

Jeff Jordan

Mobile

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