Columbia Downtown CID says officials should not single out bar amid crime concerns

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia's Downtown Community Improvement District issued a statement Wednesday criticizing officials who have labeled a downtown bar a "public nuisance."

The statement was issued in response to a letter from Attorney General Catherine Hanaway sent to Reign Bar between Walnut and Ninth Street, addressing the “nuisance conditions.”

Downtown CID Director Nickie Davis said in a statement that the District takes "public safety seriously," but does not support placing the blame on one bar.

"The District does not support singling out or assigning responsibility to an individual business without clear evidence demonstrating that the business itself is responsible for the activity in question," Davis said in the email.

Davis said Reign Bar has continued to be in communication with The District, law enforcement, and community members about the safety concerns for Ninth and Walnut Street.

The safety concerns tend to happen outside of businesses in public spaces like the sidewalks or streets, according to Davis. And Davis wrote that business owners have limited authority to control the actions that happen outside of their businesses.

Downtown businesses are responsible for operating their businesses in a safe manner, according to Davis. And she wrote that individuals who participate in violent behavior downtown should be held accountable for their actions.

"Violence anywhere in Downtown Columbia is unacceptable," wrote Davis. "At the same time, we must be careful not to confuse proximity for causation when determining responsibility."

The District will continue to support Reign Bar and continue to look at "verified information" that leads to contributions to the public safety concerns of downtown.

Davis invited Hanaway, Gov. Mike Kehoe, and other state leaders to come to downtown Columbia to meet with business owners, community members, and law enforcement to discuss public safety concerns.

University of Missouri President Mun Choi warned students at the start of the semester to stay away from the part of downtown where Reign is located, citing a street brawl that resulted in seven arrests and other incidents.