‘We are fed up’: Third Ward community members call for Houston leaders to get crime under control after violent nightclub shooting

HOUSTON – Mayor Sylvester Turner spoke at the “No More Crimes” news conference hosted by the MacGregor Super Neighborhood and the Riverside Civic Association in Third Ward Monday morning.

According to a news release, both organizations are hoping to bring the community together to express their frustration amid increasing crime rates in Houston.

This comes after a violent shooting at Spivey’s Famous Bistro that left a bouncer and four others injured on Feb. 17.

RELATED: Club bouncer, 4 others shot after disturbance at popular Third Ward nightclub, police say

“Mayor Turner’s recent announcement of a $44 million plan to combat the city’s rising crime gives hope, but we stand united to ask the city and county leaders to bring immediate and swift action to our community,” the release said.

Both organizations are also demanding city officials to reduce violent crime by proposing stricter guidelines for businesses, such as:

• Suspend occupancy licenses to bars, clubs, restaurants and convenience stores immediately following a violent incident until a police investigation is complete.
• Deny occupancy permits to establishments with no adequate parking.
• Zero tolerance policy for noise complaints
• TABC end license agreements for a location in perpetuity so the next bar or club cannot use that license in that same location.

Mayor Turner added that he will mandate security cameras to be installed in businesses so law enforcement can use them as evidence during an incident as part of the “One Safe Houston” initiative, along with HPD Chief Troy Finner.

RELATED: ‘Violent crime is a public health crisis’: Mayor Turner lays out 17-page initiative to help reduce violent crime

“We will use the tools we need to crack down on the violence at bars, clubs, you name it,” he said. “There were repeated acts of violence and that’s unacceptable in our city.”

Chief Finner said he met with most bar and club owners several months ago, telling them to “be a good neighbor” when it comes to doing business near neighborhoods.

“If you’re not a good neighbor, we will enforce what we can enforce on you,” he said. “The mayor and I have been communicating. We will put you in compliance.”