I
am
writing
you
about
enforcement
actions
against
hookah
lounges.
The
tragic
slaying
of
community
activist
Donnie
Chin
highlights
the
need
for
securing
public
safety
within
our
neighborhood
business
districts.
However,
I
believe
we
should
consider
the
potential
unintended
consequences
of
enforcement
measures
aimed
at
just
one
type
of
business,
in
this
case
hookah
lounges.
Ive
heard
from
many
constituents
who
see
a
cultural
element
to
these
lounges
and
do
not
see
anything
that
would
inherently
foster
violence.
Cities
such
as
Portland,
San
Francisco
and
Los
Angeles
have
a
number
of
hookah
lounges,
despite
statewide
indoor
workplace
smoking
bans.
Can
we
learn
anything
from
them?
I
am
interested
in
the
data
collected
in
support
of
your
enforcement
actions.
Are
the
incidents
inside
the
establishments,
or
outside;
are
the
people
involved
connected
to
the
establishments?
I
ask
because
in
the
late
1990s,
data
was
used
in
a
similar
way
toward
R&B
and
hip-hop
music
establishments,
with
a
tendency
toward
collective
responsibility.
Analysis
of
the
data
often
did
not
support
the
claims.
As
a
result
we
stopped
the
practice
of
focusing
on
nightlife
establishments
as
a
class
and
instead
focus
on
individual
establishments,
when
necessary.
City
government
worked
for
many
years
to
build
trust
and
understanding
with
the
nightlife
community.
This
approach
has
allowed
the
city
to
effectively
take
enforcement
action
against
bad
actors,
with
the
support
of
the
nightlife
industry.
As
the
sponsor
of
Ordinance
124808,
which
allows
for
enforcement
actions
against
businesses
out
of
compliance
with
business
license
regulations,
my
intent
was
to
address
the
specific
problem
of
unregulated
medical
marijuana
dispensaries,
and
to
provide
a
tool
that
allows
for
necessary
enforcement.
I
think
its
important
to
recognize
the
spirit
of
the
law,
and
move
cautiously
toward
any
broader
application.
For
example,
have
Race
and
Social
Justice
(RSJ)
objectives
been
formally
taken
into
account?
I
am
requesting
that
you
take
a
more
measured
approach,
and
ask
that
you
monitor
establishments
for
the
next
60
days,
to
allow
a
report
to
your
office
and
the
Council
that
would
review
the
current
crime
data
and
the
extent
to
which
it
is
directly
linked
to
any
particular
establishments.
In
addition
it
would
review
best
practices
in
the
other
cities
Ive
mentioned
to
determine
if
we
can
achieve
our
safety
concerns
without
compromising
our
RSJ
goals.
By
having
this
information
a
more
effective
and
fairer
law
enforcement
approach
can
be
applied
to
hookah
lounges.
Thank
you
for
consideration
of
this
request.
I
believe
we
can
work
together
to
meet
community
concerns.
Sincerely,
Nick
Licata
City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 2, PO Box 34025, Seattle, Washington 98124-4025 (206) 684-8803, Fax: (206) 684-8587, TTY: (206) 233-0025 E-mail Address: nick.licata@seattle.gov Web: http://www.seattle.gov/council/licata An EEO employer. Accommodations for people with disabilities provided upon request. Printed on Recycled Paper