Race Conerns Could be a Factor for Nick Barnett in GB

[hoffdaddy 1]

Having lived there, I have no doubt that it is tougher on minority players, and monorities in general. It's still a very, very white city. Though there is a large and growing hispanic population.

 

http://www.madison.com/wsj/mad/sports/index.php?ntid=88405

Packers: Race concerns could be factor for Barnett

JASON WILDE

608-252-6176

jwilde@madison.com

GREEN BAY - Nick Barnett sat in his locker and pondered the question. After what he has learned the past few weeks, the Green Bay Packers linebacker wanted to choose his words carefully.

 

Last September, Barnett, the Packers' 2003 first-round draft pick, opened FiveSix Ultra Lounge - named for his jersey number - in the former Historic West Theatre building in Green Bay's Broadway district.

 

Initially billed as a restaurant and nightclub, critics say FiveSix evolved instead into a bar that happened to serve food, which goes against why the city granted Barnett a license in the first place.

 

Neighbors from one of the few residential sites near the club also complained recently about bar-time noise, drunkenness, fights and littering, and one person turned a videotape of the area over to a local TV station and the City Council.

 

According to police records obtained by the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the club had 22 police calls in the first five months of 2006.

 

So when Barnett's liquor license came up for renewal May 31, the city's Protection and Welfare Committee voted 3-1 to deny his application. At the City Council's June 6 meeting, the vote was 8-4 to uphold the committee's recommendation.

 

Those are the facts. What Barnett can't help but wonder is whether race played a role in the city's decision. Not necessarily his race, but that of his patrons, many of whom are black.

 

"I was born in an interracial couple. My mom is black, my dad was white," said Barnett, whose club remains open as he appeals the decision. "So I don't have a problem with (being black in Green Bay).

 

"I'm not saying the whole city is racist - that's not what I'm saying. But we do get stereotyped here. Like, when (the members of the council) were watching the video of my club. They looked at the way people were dressed and said, 'How do you get that element in your club?' Well, what do you mean by 'element?' Just because they're black? Is that the 'element' you're talking about?"

[TerrySilver 0]

that sucks for him, and i really do hope race didnt play a factor (but most likely it did. and yes, i'll admit this is just a assumption on my part based on no facts, other then the fact green bay is about 86% white and less then 2% black).

 

 

link to demographic info:

 

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Bay%2C_Wisconsin

[mozzy84 0]

sounds like he doesn't know how to run a business, if you have to sell a certain amount of food to keep your liquor license you better do it, plus 22 police calls in 5 months seems like alot. Places have been shut down where I live because they did the same thing. In other words quite your whinning Barnett, a white guy would have been shut down also.

[Parkers99 0]

I'm growing hyper-sensitive to the race card crap. It turns my stomach to hear it.

 

#1) It's not unusual to require a % of sales be made up of food. I don't know about Green Bay, but in most cities their are several types of licenses. The "bar" license normally costs more and is restricted to certain areas of town. If your license requires 50% food sales... sale 50% food. It 'aint rocket science.

 

#2) "that element?" I didn't see the tape, but do you guys think it was just footage of black people walking into the club? If a neighbor went to the trouble of grabbing his videocamera, I assume he was filming something more disturbing.

 

#3) The local police are not your personal bouncers. I ran a bar for 4 years. I called the police twice... both times for "serious" fights. They had 22 calls in 5 months!? Thats more than once every week. If you've got the cops on speed dial, something is just wrong.

[XToday 0]

I'm growing hyper-sensitive to the race card crap. It turns my stomach to hear it.

 

#1) It's not unusual to require a % of sales be made up of food. I don't know about Green Bay, but in most cities their are several types of licenses. The "bar" license normally costs more and is restricted to certain areas of town. If your license requires 50% food sales... sale 50% food. It 'aint rocket science.

 

#2) "that element?" I didn't see the tape, but do you guys think it was just footage of black people walking into the club? If a neighbor went to the trouble of grabbing his videocamera, I assume he was filming something more disturbing.

 

#3) The local police are not your personal bouncers. I ran a bar for 4 years. I called the police twice... both times for "serious" fights. They had 22 calls in 5 months!? Thats more than once every week. If you've got the cops on speed dial, something is just wrong.

 

 

[Let Da Big Dog Eat 42]

I'm growing hyper-sensitive to the race card crap. It turns my stomach to hear it.

 

#1) It's not unusual to require a % of sales be made up of food. I don't know about Green Bay, but in most cities their are several types of licenses. The "bar" license normally costs more and is restricted to certain areas of town. If your license requires 50% food sales... sale 50% food. It 'aint rocket science.

 

#2) "that element?" I didn't see the tape, but do you guys think it was just footage of black people walking into the club? If a neighbor went to the trouble of grabbing his videocamera, I assume he was filming something more disturbing.

 

#3) The local police are not your personal bouncers. I ran a bar for 4 years. I called the police twice... both times for "serious" fights. They had 22 calls in 5 months!? Thats more than once every week. If you've got the cops on speed dial, something is just wrong.

 

I am an insurance agency owner and you are absolutely right. There are %'s (booze/food) involved when determining whether a place is a bar, restaurant or nightclub. Any place that has to call the cops more than once a week is high risk at best, most likely uninsurable. And, in GB? Uninsurable!

 

What it means has nothing to do with race. It means that the place is a magnet for thugs of any race.

 

He trusted the wrong people to open and run this place for him. He should just close it and cut his losses. Buy a FF place or 10 and get experienced people to run it and concentrate on football. I did financial planning for several Colts players years ago and this was one of the things I recommeded. All of my clients are now happily retired and wealthy.

 

In short, to play the race card here is a losing hand.

[Bad_Mo_focher 1]

In Green Bay, doesn't he just have to throw some cheese out on a few tables to meet that "food served" requirement?

[swamp dog 0]

sounds like he doesn't know how to run a business, if you have to sell a certain amount of food to keep your liquor license you better do it, plus 22 police calls in 5 months seems like alot. Places have been shut down where I live because they did the same thing. In other words quite your whinning Barnett, a white guy would have been shut down also.

 

exactly. that was quite the jump barnett made to the race card. what an idiot.

[Parja 0]

In Green Bay, doesn't he just have to throw some cheese out on a few tables to meet that "food served" requirement?

 

C'mon, we eat more than cheese in Wisconsin.

 

There's brats, too.  And...umm...beer.  Beer counts as food, right?

[RLLD 4,283]

exactly. that was quite the jump barnett made to the race card. what an idiot.

 

But usually effective.

 

Something bad happens to you, you claim racism when you dont get your way etc. he may even actually believe that race is involved, we cannot be sure. Regardless, instead of a means to secure justice, asserting racism has become a vehicle for minorities to get their way when the law stops them, or when they get bad service etc.

 

Instead of social equality, the assertion of racism is now used as a vindictive tool.

 

JMHO

[Two Deep 0]

We reap what we sow, If you want respect behave and dress respectfully. When you dress and act like a gangsta thug that is how you will be treated. My guess is the latter was happening at this location. Pull your pants up, turn the bill of your hat to the front, talk normal, behave yourselves and see how much better you are accepted by society. I for one am tired of seeing young males of all races acting like ignorant punks, its been over played and over done. Grow up, respect yourself and be a real man.

 

I'll climb down off of my soapbox now.

[wiffleball 4,797]

Truth is, whether we like it or not, an "ethnic" (predominantly non-caucasian patrons) club in the 'wrong' (read: "white") neighborhood is going to have a tough time. I hate the race card. I'm white (okay, really more pinkish) and have my own feelings about race, But the truth is, it sounds like this club was and will continue to be under more scrutiny b/c of it. I've seen clubs like these get nit-picked to death. - Just like White businesses tend to get a lot more crime and vadalism in the wrong 'hoods.

 

- Ain't fair, is life. Pretending racism (on the part of EVERY ethnic group) doesn't exist don't make it so.

[LOD01 199]

We reap what we sow, If you want respect behave and dress respectfully. When you dress and act like a gangsta thug that is how you will be treated. My guess is the latter was happening at this location. Pull your pants up, turn the bill of your hat to the front, talk normal, behave yourselves and see how much better you are accepted by society. I for one am tired of seeing young males of all races acting like 'YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE', its been over played and over done. Grow up, respect yourself and be a real man.

 

I'll climb down off of my soapbox now.

 

 

Fixed.

[Two Deep 0]

Fixed.

 

Calling someone a "You Know What They Are" is highly offensive.

[Phurfur 70]

The race card is used as an excuse for people's failing and problems and I'm sick of hearing it. The real problem is that the Race Card includes special consideration and privileges. People of Color have become use to yelling Racism and getting their way. Most people (Black, White, Hispanic, etc.) don't care if the person pissing on their lawn is Black or White; they just want them to stop. They don't care if the fight in front of their house is involving Hispanics or Whites they just don't want it. If the patrons of an establishment don't respect the neighborhood they are in they should expect to be shut down.

[swamp dog 0]

gotta believe this creates an "awkward" relationship (to say the least) between barnett and the greater green bay community now.

 

how do you throw the race card out there like that and not alienate all of green bay?

 

first it was a small town, no restaurants...now the complaint is racism. it just keeps getting worse.

[Jay 0]

Three comments.

 

1) Green Bay is not culturally diverse. You don't get any more "white" than Green Bay Wisconsin. I work for one of the largest employers in the Green Bay area. We hire a lot of top minds, regardless of anything else. However, we lose some of them because Green Bay does not support a diverse enough culture to provide opportunity for everyone to get what they want in terms of entertainment and opportunity. Also, the dating pool can be sparse if you're a young single guy or gal.

 

2) I agree that there is a difference between a restaurant and a bar, and they should be treated differently.

 

3) Packers are generally treated like royalty in Green Bay, rather than the opposite. It's unfortunate, but I think the race card is inappropriate here. #56 is a fan-favorite of a lot of people.

 

I have to think that there are some alternatives here. It will be interesting to see how it goes down. I'd hate to lose a top player for something like this.

[Let Da Big Dog Eat 42]

first it was a small town, no restaurants...now the complaint is racism. it just keeps getting worse.

 

"no restaurants" Obviously you have never been there. And, don't bring in the Walker case, you already lost that one.

 

This is about 22 police calls or about 1 per week. That is thug central. End of story. He opened the wrong type of "club" and is afraid he will lose his investment. Too bad, so sad, welcome to the real world.

 

There are so many quality restaurants in and around GB that it's a tough business to make it work. He opened a thug type club and is surprised he has problems? I am a Pack fan but also an intelligent person. I want to see his GED if he thought that would work in GB. Thug is thug. If it were owned by a white guy, it probably would already have been shut down. Now, that's racism.

[Jay 0]

Actually, Green Bay IS pretty weak for restaurants, IMO. Appleton (30 minutes away) has some pretty decent selection. In terms of night-life, Appleton is better too. Favre used to come down and party in Appleton, back in the day.

[swamp dog 0]

"no restaurants" Obviously you have never been there. And, don't bring in the Walker case, you already lost that one.

 

This is about 22 police calls or about 1 per week. That is thug central. End of story. He opened the wrong type of "club" and is afraid he will lose his investment. Too bad, so sad, welcome to the real world.

 

There are so many quality restaurants in and around GB that it's a tough business to make it work. He opened a thug type club and is surprised he has problems? I am a Pack fan but also an intelligent person. I want to see his GED if he thought that would work in GB. Thug is thug. If it were owned by a white guy, it probably would already have been shut down. Now, that's racism.

 

you're killing the messenger. i like green bay; i have no problem with green bay and what's there. players have made the complaints, not me.

[Two Deep 0]

"no restaurants" Obviously you have never been there. And, don't bring in the Walker case, you already lost that one.

 

This is about 22 police calls or about 1 per week. That is thug central. End of story. He opened the wrong type of "club" and is afraid he will lose his investment. Too bad, so sad, welcome to the real world.

 

There are so many quality restaurants in and around GB that it's a tough business to make it work. He opened a thug type club and is surprised he has problems? I am a Pack fan but also an intelligent person. I want to see his GED if he thought that would work in GB. Thug is thug. If it were owned by a white guy, it probably would already have been shut down. Now, that's racism.

 

Amen brother, he should probably move his establishment to New Orleans where a mayor can call it a "chocolate city" and still be re-elected. Can you imagine if the mayor of Green Bay called his city a vanilla city holy snikes he would be in a world of political hurt. I am sick of the race card being played by african americans. It is time to look inward fellas and see if maybe you are creating the negetive image of your race. Being respectful gets you respect I don't care what race you are.

[RLLD 4,283]

Its just a fact of life in our current culture, the Racism assertion is abused. Keep in mind that you will not find a vocal opponent to that misuse though, when you object you then become the target until your voice is silenced. Make no mistake about it, those making the Racism claim know full-well that it is the trump card of all trump cards. They wield it well, and use it where ever possible.

 

If I could get my way be simply claiming I was being oppressed due to my race I would prolly do it too. THough, I hope I would not...

[Vikings4ever 570]

Amen brother, he should probably move his establishment to New Orleans where a mayor can call it a "chocolate city" and still be re-elected. Can you imagine if the mayor of Green Bay called his city a vanilla city holy snikes he would be in a world of political hurt. I am sick of the race card being played by african americans. It is time to look inward fellas and see if maybe you are creating the negetive image of your race. Being respectful gets you respect I don't care what race you are.

Racist!

 

When the mayor talked about New Orleans being a chocolate city, this is what he meant.

[TerrySilver 0]

about the 22 calls to the cops. is the restaurant itself calling the cops 22 times to handle problems, or are these calls coming from neighbors or patrons? b/c to me there's a major difference.

 

the reason why i ask is that (and this is total speculation on my part) is that an old white neighbor to the bar may be more inclined to call the cops if he/she sees a scuffle outside the bar involving black people, as opposed to calling the cops on white people. again, pure speculation, i was just interested in who's phoning in the calls.

 

also, if a few white neighbors dont want a bar in their neighborhood that caters to this "element", they may be more inclined to file complaints and call the cops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

......or maybe nick barnett just doesnt know how to run an establishment properly and deserves to get it shut down.

[Sho Nuff 720]

Actually, Green Bay IS pretty weak for restaurants, IMO. Appleton (30 minutes away) has some pretty decent selection. In terms of night-life, Appleton is better too. Favre used to come down and party in Appleton, back in the day.

 

There are a few up there in Green Bay. Though growing up in Menasha Ive been to more in the Appleton, Menasha, Kaukauna, Kimberly, and Oshkosh area (especially the Roxy which is one of the best places up there if not the best).

 

about the 22 calls to the cops. is the restaurant itself calling the cops 22 times to handle problems, or are these calls coming from neighbors or patrons? b/c to me there's a major difference.

 

the reason why i ask is that (and this is total speculation on my part) is that an old white neighbor to the bar may be more inclined to call the cops if he/she sees a scuffle outside the bar involving black people, as opposed to calling the cops on white people. again, pure speculation, i was just interested in who's phoning in the calls.

 

also, if a few white neighbors dont want a bar in their neighborhood that caters to this "element", they may be more inclined to file complaints and call the cops.

......or maybe nick barnett just doesnt know how to run an establishment properly and deserves to get it shut down.

 

Pretty much agreed.

[Snoopy1 0]

Accusations of unfair treatment of Barnett surfaced since then, especially after a city committee recommended a license approval for another club with a similar history under an approved abatement plan.

 

More fuel for the fire.

[Vermicious Knids 0]

about the 22 calls to the cops. is the restaurant itself calling the cops 22 times to handle problems, or are these calls coming from neighbors or patrons? b/c to me there's a major difference.

 

the reason why i ask is that (and this is total speculation on my part) is that an old white neighbor to the bar may be more inclined to call the cops if he/she sees a scuffle outside the bar involving black people, as opposed to calling the cops on white people. again, pure speculation, i was just interested in who's phoning in the calls.

 

also, if a few white neighbors dont want a bar in their neighborhood that caters to this "element", they may be more inclined to file complaints and call the cops.

......or maybe nick barnett just doesnt know how to run an establishment properly and deserves to get it shut down.

 

 

But you missed the best, ooopppssss that should read the WORST ….

 

BEANSNAPPERS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Hahahahhahahah

 

I was up there last year for a week working with one of our clients and yes Appleton and OshKosh has a couple of nice establishments. Lombardi’s Steak house is as good as many big cities best steak house. Friar Tucks for lunch is very good. As for night time entertainment I can not think of any off hand other then by far the worst strip club in America! I was amazed at how terrible that place was.

[hoffdaddy 1]

But you missed the best, ooopppssss that should read the WORST ….

 

BEANSNAPPERS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

As for night time entertainment I can not think of any off hand other then by far the worst strip club in America! I was amazed at how terrible that place was.

 

Then you obviously didn't venture out much. I've been in much, much, much worse in Wisconsin. Trust me.

[Vermicious Knids 0]

Wow that is hard to believe. Heck I have been to strip clubs in over 20 states and 4 countries and I can say that is the Worst by far. I mean it was terrible and it was a sat night. For you to say there are worse ones suprises me! Oh well you all have good outdoors up there.

[Phurfur 70]

Wow that is hard to believe. Heck I have been to strip clubs in over 20 states and 4 countries and I can say that is the Worst by far. I mean it was terrible and it was a sat night. For you to say there are worse ones suprises me! Oh well you all have good outdoors up there.

 

When did we start rating our cities by the quality of their strip clubs?

 

Last week Nick Barnett's Club 5 6 what vandalized with graffiti. F***** N***** being one. It was bad enough that the city cleaned it up ASAP. Usually this is left to the owner.

[Sho Nuff 720]

But you missed the best, ooopppssss that should read the WORST ….

 

BEANSNAPPERS!!!!!!!!!!!

Hahahahhahahah

 

I was up there last year for a week working with one of our clients and yes Appleton and OshKosh has a couple of nice establishments. Lombardi’s Steak house is as good as many big cities best steak house. Friar Tucks for lunch is very good. As for night time entertainment I can not think of any off hand other then by far the worst strip club in America! I was amazed at how terrible that place was.

 

Lombardis is good...but overpriced.

 

Id much rather go to Georges...much better IMO. As is the Red Ox. ###### and Joans has some very good steaks and seafood as well.

 

Never actually been to Friar Tucks.

 

lunch I prefer Spats on the Ave. Great fish, excellent sammiches. Helps that my parents know the owners.

[GhostofMeanMachine99 1]

Frankly, I don't know much about Barnett nor his club, and also about the white/black ratio in Green Bay.

 

I do know, however, when I see someone who was probably told by his financial planner to start moving some of his money around. He's a college guy, thinks he can just open a place up like Jay-Z, make a fortune, and be recognized.

 

Well, Mr. Barnett, you really don't see many people just out of college doing this thing. Most college grads have to actually gain experience in the business world before undertaking a venture like this.

 

I can also imagine he's surrounded by "yes" men, and his boyz, who probably just leech off of him. He probably puts his boyz in positions (say promoting the restaurant, hiring staff) where they're just gonna screw it up.

 

So his boyz prolly went around and invited the people they know, which are probably people of a lesser social character, and it feeds from there.

 

The most important time for any bar/restaurant/club are the first 2 weeks from the grand opening. That will set the stage for how the club is perceived, and who will be going to said club. So with that in mind, the man with the loot put it on the shoulders of his boyz, who in turn invited the only people they knew.

 

By that time, the damage is done. Barnett doesn't have a clue because he's never owned a focking restaurant/bar before.

 

So, not being as smart as he thinks he actually is, he goes to the well, pulls up the race card. I don't disagree with this because I am not a minority, nor do I know how it really feels to be discriminated against.

 

What's my point? Having money, fame, or even a college education doesn't make you smart, no matter what the people around you tell you what you want to hear.