FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, May 8, 2008
Planning Commission Revokes Da Candy Shop Use Permit
(Stockton, CA) – The City of Stockton Planning Commission voted 7 - 0 to revoke the Use Permit for Da Candy Shop, a teen nightclub located at 111 S. Sutter Street. Da Candy Shop was originally granted a Use Permit on January 11, 2007.
Since the Club opened in November 2007, there have been numerous Use Permit violations, including: excessively loud music that can be heard over a block away; patrons not being searched or scanned; patrons that are either too young or too old admitted for entrance during operating hours designated for a specific age group; no uniformed security guards; and no lists of ejected persons provided to the Police Department.
There have been a high number of Police calls for service to the club, requiring Police response and resources that are then not available to serve the rest of the city. Calls for service include loud music complaints, 6 incidents of shots fired, firearms and narcotics arrests, fights, juveniles harassing customers at area restaurants; Hyphy/Side show activity: serious injury to a patron who jumped through a window; and large crowds of people in the streets that obstructed the path of police vehicles, delaying a response to calls for service, and numerous other safety concerns.
The Stockton Police Department has held multiple meetings with the owner and provided lists of concerns and violations. Violations and calls for service have continued. At the Planning Commission hearing, the owner was provided the opportunity to present his position. Several speakers spoke in support of keeping the club open. After hearing both the Stockton Police Department record of events and testimony on behalf of the club, Commissioners expressed that they had high hopes for the club’s success when the permit was first granted, and acknowledged that there a significant need for safe venues for teens.
“I was excited about this place, and my students were excited about this place,”
stated Commissioner Fugazi, who is a high school teacher, “but their safety comes first.”
Commissioner Kantos recalled, in his 6 years on the Commission, other scenarios where there had been safety concerns, stating, “I think there is a high opportunity that we are going to have a tragedy here.”
The owner has the opportunity to appeal the Commission decision to the Stockton City Council within 10 days.
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