The shooting that occurred at Power Ultra Lounge nightclub in the early morning hours of July 1 makes evident that now, more than ever, the Little Rock community must come together to develop short-term and long-term strategies to combat rising incidents of gun violence.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson plans to address what he refers to as Little Rock's growing "crime problem" with "a comprehensive enforcement strategy that helps take violent threats off the streets." He has also promised that, in the immediate future, "the state will participate and bring assets to the table to support local law enforcement efforts."
I want to thank Governor Hutchinson for his help with this issue. But I want us as a community to understand that law enforcement can only do so much and that to generate long-term, sustainable change; enforcement and prevention must go hand in hand. Community leaders, parents, concerned citizens, business owners, legislators, and law enforcement must all collaborate to ensure that the following proactive steps are taken to help turn the tide on Little Rock's rising incidence of gun violence.
First, monitoring and enforcement of rules and regulations about establishments claiming to be a "special events center," as was the case with Power Ultra Lounge, must be strictly enforced.
Officials later discovered that the nightclub was zoned as a restaurant and never obtained a permit to operate as a special-events venue. Furthermore, businesses found in violation of public health and safety codes should be heavily fined or forcibly shut down after no more than three documented warnings. Power Ultra Lounge had been cited for 14 violations, and action against them was taken seven times since 2012.
Clearly, penalties were not substantial enough to deter the club owners from repeatedly breaking the rules.
Also, nightclubs serving alcohol past stipulated hours of operation must be penalized accordingly. While Power Ultra Lounge did have a mixed-drink permit, the law clearly states that alcohol is not to be served at the establishment past 2 a.m. Hours of operation and the time frame during which alcohol is served must be carefully monitored and enforced to avoid factors like those that contributed to the July 1 shooting incident.
Second, if Little Rock hopes to be successful in lowering its "crime problem" and eradicating gun violence, it must champion two things: community engagement and its youth. The two are inherently intertwined.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board found that of Power Ultra Lounge's 14 violations, some were for underage drinking. The community must do its part to protect our youth. While we can help curb underage drinking at nightclubs by monitoring establishments, we need to implement and enforce a curfew for youth; along with the curfew, we must implement a combination of prevention, intervention and suppression strategies. These strategies should take the form of education, positive self-expression, supervised structured activities, and community policing.
Third, for adolescents and teens today, violence serves as a mutually destructive force, making victims of not only the individual being harmed, but also the perpetrator. Minors who engage in acts of violence may be unaware or unappreciative of the devastating, lasting impact their actions carry. It is the role of parents to supervise their children and provide the guidance that kids need to help them make good decisions.
Finally, as a member of the Board of Directors, I want the citizens of Little Rock to know that I am committed to finding solutions to the issues affecting the livability of our city.
Everyone has the right to live in a safe environment, and the role of government is to facilitate and ensure the stability of our neighborhoods. But I need your help; I need your ideas and your commitment to working with me to turn this situation around.
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Doris Wright is the city director for Ward 6 on the Little Rock Board of Directors. She was first elected in 2006, and served as the city's first African American vice mayor from 2012-2014. Email her at board@littlerock.gov.
Editorial on 07/13/2017