TASTE LOUNGE GETS A CHANCE TO HELP SOLVE PROBLEM

By granting the owner of the Taste Lounge a probationary liquor license, the Cape Girardeau City Council reached a workable compromise concerning the popular Good Hope neighborhood nightclub.

Police Chief Richard Hetzel had recommended that the council to deny the bar owner's request for renewal of his license, which expires in July. Hetzel says continuing problems with crowds near the establishment have grown too large.

Taking away the Taste's liquor license would have effectively closed the down business, thereby eliminating the troublesome crowds that gather outside the Taste. Of course, where these patrons might have started gathering is anyone's guess. Taking that step would have been a heavy-handed move that likely wouldn't have solved any problems while at the same time needlessly alienating Cape Girardeau's black community.

The Taste, at 402 Good Hope Street, is the only rhythm-and-blues club in the area. It is also the only bar in town where some black patrons say they feel welcome. Michael Pryor, the bar's owner, says he runs a clean business. He has bouncers keeping the peace inside the establishment, and he bans known troublemakers. The police department admits it responds to few calls inside the Taste.

The problems mainly occur at closing time, particularly on Thursday and Saturday nights. Because a bulk of the Taste's patrons live within walking distance, crowds linger in the street to socialize.

Chief Hetzel says this mingling on the street leads to broken beer bottles littering yards and sidewalks, fights, drug deals and general boisterous behavior. As a result, a noticeable police presence is needed to prevent things from getting out of hand. This keeps officers from patrolling other areas of the city.

Pryor agrees the crowds can be a problem. However, he says, he shouldn't be held accountable for things that happen off of his property.

Keeping the peace and maintaining order in public areas is the police department's job. A business shouldn't be shut down for generating crowds that require police attention. If that were the case, Southeast Missouri State University shouldn't be allowed to hold basketball games because of the resulting traffic bottlenecks that require the presence of officers to keep vehicles flowing. And what about other events, such as parades, where officers are needed for crowd control?

By issuing the Taste a six-month probationary liquor license, the City Council is giving Pryor an incentive to encourage his patrons go home after they leave the bar. Pryor can't take a not-my-problem attitude and keep his business going. During the probationary period, Pryor and the police should work together. In six months, the council will review the situation. If the problems outside the Taste has been reduced, there should be no trouble re-issuing the liquor license.