BROOKHAVEN, Ga. — Several night clubs in Brookhaven say they are being targeted because of what they say is flat out racism.
Now, three of those clubs, all minority-owned, are hitting the town with a federal lawsuit.
11Alive's Christie Ethridge went to one of the clubs to speak to one business owner who believes they are being targeted because of a new alcohol ordinance.
Three businesses, all located in the Northeast Plaza shopping center off Buford Highway, claim the city has “adopted and enforced a set of confusing, content-based ordinances that it believes will cripple the city’s restaurants which cater to African-Americans.”
The new ordinance, which went into effect in October 2017, applies to businesses that sell alcohol, have a dance floor, a stage, or a DJ. Those places are now considered an "entertainment venue," and the new alcohol fee applies.
So, businesses like Medusa, who were paying $5,000 to sell alcohol before the changes, now have to pay $100,000.
The lawsuit calls it a civil rights case. But Brookhaven Police spokesperson Burke Brennan said it has nothing to do with race.
"We cannot comment on the specifics of a lawsuit, but I can say unequivocally the Brookhaven Police Department does not racially profile any sort under any context whatsoever," Brennan said.
Brennan said the increase in the cost of an alcohol ordinance was in response to a public safety issue.
"We had a spike in crime around and as the close of these enterprises that are all located in approximately the same area," Brennan explained.
According to statistics from the city, police say 10 clubs call police the most, but the people who need the police don’t live in Brookhaven.
"The statistics bear out there is increased activity after midnight, and the people committing these crimes are, by far and away, not Brookhaven residents, but the people paying for it are Brookhaven residents," Brennan continued.
So what used to be a $5,000 fee is now $100,000, and these restaurants say that’s just not fair.
