By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – A Franklin Street bar in the popular downtown Chippewa district has been shut down. "The Basement" has been linked to violence.
Thursday, the club operators were evicted by the owner of the Franklin Street property. The city has also taken steps to pull the establishment's licenses.
Buffalo police say the night club attracts a rough crowd and has been inked to shootings outside the bar. Mayor Masiello says the city has taken steps to suspend the bar's food and beverage license. Masiello says the city is not going to tolerate the violence.
"There have been a series of problems at 'The Basement' that have to be dealt with," Masiello said. "But we have to send a message that is loud and clear -- 'The Basement' problem is no longer going to exist."
But the bar operators say the incidents didn't occur inside "The Basement." Club manager Mike Waz told WBFO News he was upset by the shutdown. Ellicott District Council member Brian Davis says he was alarmed to learn of Thursday's actions against the bar. Davis says he wants to know what other steps the city will take to stop the violence.
"I'm very, very sensitive to the fact that this is an issue about safety," Davis said. "It is also an issue about individuals lives being compromised, to some degree. But the reality is, we must find comprehensive ways to address these concerns in the city, not to send a message to shut your doors. We need to get to the root of the problem."
Davis says he plans to reach out to the owner of the Franklin Street property to discuss the eviction of the night club operators. Davis is calling actions against the bar a "knee jerk" reaction.