Club Owners Speak About Nuisance Actions
The owner of one Jackson nightclub spoke out about the public nuisance actions filed by the city of Jackson. “Show, ya know, didn’t know, didn’t understand why. I wasn’t aware that we had done anything that would have caused some type of action like this,” said The Mix Factory owner, Randy Hall. Hall believed the city of Jackson was punishing his club, for incidents that happened at places like Club Karma Ultra lounge. “I think the city of Jackson is trying real hard to get control of a bad situation and in doing so I believe a few innocent people are going to get stepped on a little bit in the process,” said Hall. Jackson Mayor Jerry Gist, said the three clubs declared nuisances require an inordinate amount of attention from police. Records showed between January 2010 and February of this year, police made 96 calls to The Mix Factory for incidents such as assault, robbery, and drug possession. The club is opened only four days a week. “Well, it’s going to hopefully be able to relieve our police officers who are out there protecting the citizens of this city. They’re not out there Friday and Saturday night to intervene in an assault at a nightclub, we need to get them back doing what they do,” said Mayor Jerry Gist. Hall was the only owner of the three clubs served with a lawsuit who hired city officers as security. “We hired the off-duty police officers to police our parking lot, and they are every every time we’re open.” Hall believed he did everything in his power to run a safe business, and said what happens in the parking lot should not be blamed on his club; but the mayor disagrees. Mayor Gist said club owners, operators, and landlords were responsible for setting the tone of what happened inside and outside of their establishments. “Some of them operate their clubs in a professional manner and protect their patrons, they’re not on the radar screen because they’re doing a good job. Some of them do a sorry job,” added the Mayor. Desperados and Taboo owners refused to give a comment.
