A crowd of Tempe community members gathered at the Tempe History Museum Monday evening to discuss the city’s withdrawal of the Clubhouse Music Venue’s use permit.
Many Tempe police officers and city council members were in attendance, but the conference room was filled with mostly supporters of Eugenia Ruven, owner of the Clubhouse and Horse & Hound Sport’s Grill.
The opportunity for the public to speak passed quickly, however, as Tempe Police Lt. Mike Horn refused to answer questions and cut the public forum short by about a half hour.
Tempe Police Chief Tom Ryff and Cmdr. Kim Hale were also in attendance.
Police arrested and cited Ruven on Friday on suspicion that the business violated the city’s security plan, Hale said during the forum.
Tempe security plans require venues to maintain communication between the establishment and police regarding shows and public safety, he said.
“What is it that we can do to make sure this doesn’t happen again?” Hale said. “What failures took place, what successes were there?”
Tempe City Manager Charlie Meyer said the ultimate priority is finding the two remaining shooters.
“We have to hold those individuals who committed the acts of violence first responsible,” Meyer said. “We also have to hold the rest of us responsible, including those people who booked the acts.”
Ryff said there are about 1.4 million known gang members in the U.S. and 20,000 of those members are in Arizona.
“This is a threat on who we are,” Ryff said.
Meyer told the forum that city council members would attend but would not field or ask any questions before the public hearing on April 3.
After Ryff, Hale and Meyer finished speaking, Horn opened the forum up to answer questions at which time many voiced concerns of what more police could have done, rather than the venue.
Sally Kellett, former owner of Mustang Sally’s, said she has known Ruven for more than 20 years.
Kellett said she has never walked into Horse & Hound without being frisked down by security.
“The bar business is hard enough,” she said. “You cannot stop assault with a gun, this is a right-to-own state, that’s just the way it is.”
Tempe resident and musician Nikki Donnell, 22, said she came out to support the Clubhouse because of its musical significance in Tempe.
“It’s a good place for artists to get started,” she said. “It’s about saving the scene, saving the music.”
Donnell said there is nobody to blame because things happen regardless of security and police presence.
“I’ve played there, I’ve been a fan there, and this is just a witch hunt,” Donnell said.
Donnell also said that there has never been a lack of security and she has gotten kicked out of the venue as a patron for being too drunk.
“People with guns are going to do what they want to do,” she said. “You can’t stop a bullet.”
Reach the reporter at sraymund@asu.edu
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