The Kenosha City Council voted Wednesday night against granting a cabaret license to a bar that features hip hop music.
Supporters called the move racist, but others cited a persistent pattern of neighborhood trouble created by the Red Zone’s patrons.
The attorney who represents the establishment, former Ald. Anthony Nudo, said a federal lawsuit is almost a certainty.
Speaking before the vote, Nudo said the number of complaints generated by the Red Zone is not that much different than those drawn by other bars in the area. "What's different with the Red Zone?" Nudo asked. "I said it before and I'll say it again: The Red Zone plays dj's that play hip hop that attracts a largely African-American crowd," he said.
John Fox, the alderman who represents the area around the Red Zone, said that over a three-month period the bar has generated over 50 calls for service, including those times when officers who are on patrol are flagged down.
Ald. Dan Prozanski took issue with Nudo’s allegation that the city is improperly targetting the bar because of the type of music it plays. "I'm offended by any aspersions that there was any sort of idea that the type of music is the reason why this cabaret license is being looked at," Prozanski said. "I think there are some police calls there that were concerning."
Prozanski offered what he called a compromise: If the Red Zone would pull its request for a cabaret license then he’d propose a continuation of the bar’s probationary cabaret license.
Nudo rejected the offer, saying the bar hasn’t done anything wrong.
Police Chief Daniel Miskinis confirmed that the tavern has implemented a number of measures that have resulted in a degree of improvement.
As chief, Miskinis has the right to unilaterally pull a bar's cabaret license license if he believe conditions warrant.
The vote against granting the license was 14 to 2.
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