Community Worrying About Nightclub Violence
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Updated: 9:07 PM Jul 2, 2009
Community Worrying About Nightclub Violence
The parking lot of the "Venue Live" has become a venue for violence lately
Posted: 5:39 PM Jul 2, 2009
Reporter: Lauren Zakalik
Email Address: lauren.zakalik@wilx.com
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Police say more than 30 people spilled out of the "Venue Live" nightclub early Thursday morning, getting into an all-out brawl that ended in shots fired and two arrests.

Just a couple of doors down in the same South Lansing plaza, hairdresser Christina Howlett is frustrated.

"There's just too many people comfortable with the violence in the world. It's happening too close to home for me," she says.

And too close to business.

This isn't the first time guns and violence have found their way to the club. A shooting in June, plus crimes like assault, larceny and fighting are making Howlett worry about her livelihood.

"I don't like it," she says. "Just being the new person, trying to bring new clients in and everything, and not being able to because customers are scared of the shootings."

The owner of the Venue Live, Germaine Redding, was at the club when we showed up Thursday afternoon, but he declined to comment or even speak to us in person. But Lansing Police do tell us they are working with him to resolve some of the continued crime issues.

"We met in june with [Redding] and will continue to meet with the owners to give any assistance we need to keep the area safe," says Lt. Judy Horning.

Horning acknowledges the dangers associated with the crimes.

"We are concerned with neighbors and patrons and business, and that's why we're working with the nightclub to make it a safer area," she says.

Howlett says she doesn't want to see the club shut down, but that these past two recent events of gun violence have been two too many.

"I don't think it's three times a charm," she says.

Police tell us the two men arrested Thursday for fighting in public, a 19-year-old Lansing man and a 20-year-old Lansing man, are free on bond.


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  • Posted By: Sandito all of you who voted for Virg. Well most of the jobs went to out of town workers, like the guys who did the streets, from OHIO!, the workers down town who are from all over but Lansing. The people who have tried to work with him in neighborhoods know that its either his way or his way. He does not care what was told or promised to you, he makes sure it's his way. If you don't like it TOO BAD FOR YOU!! If you opossed him on something gee something is not right in you neighborhood and it is not the citys fault. You and your neighbors are doing something ilegal. How do I know? I have one of the letters they sent to my neighborhood. Good Luck Lansing
  • Posted By: Congradulations to the City of Lansing! You re-elected someone who is totally beyond belief. A man who thinks if your a developer your the best thing to happen to the city, even it your less than honest. But if your a home owner who lives here... So you wanted him and we are now stuck with him for another 4 years. A man who went into QD for donuts, and had to have the clerk put them in a box for him because he did not know how. What a great guy for the mayor. Most of you have never had to try to deal with him, for fight him and his people for what was promised to them and then changed. You wait your turns are comming.
  • Posted By: BradBOY THATS JUST GREAT. I GUESS I'LL NEVER WORK IN LANSING THE NEXT FOR YEARS,BUTIM SURE VIRG WILL HIRE THE SCABS FROM GRAND RAPIDS AND HEAR HOW GREAT THE CITY IS DOING. THANKS VIRG FOR YOUR GREATGUIDENCE AND FABULOUS LIESD
  • Posted By: kI think you people are neglecting the real culprit for Lansing's troubles as well as the state of Michigan.Look who we have in the capitol sitting there in her office,telling us all a bunch of lies and making promises that she knows she can't keep. Don't be so hard on our Mayor when it's our governor who needs to be scrutinized.
  • Posted By: BillMy condolances to the residents of Lansing. You had your chance to rid yourself of your major embarrasment but chose not to. I hope it does not come back to haunt you in the next 4 loooooong years.
  • Posted By: BillGREAT! ! ! Michigan is still going to end up downhill. Why dont we just re-elect Granholm for Governor? Better off, why not elect Jim carry for president?, since this all seems to be such a comical situation... GO MICHIGAN! ! ! Move here!, NO JOBS! but it is such a pretty state.. Keep up the good work VIRG! ! Why cant you people making thousands take a cut? I personally think because taking from the middle class and the poor puts so much more in your pockets 2 thumbs down for you and our Govenor. Best wishes on continuing to bring down our state.
  • Posted By: BillThank GOD that Carol Wood did not win! Anyone who thinks that neighborhoods generate revenue needs to get their head out of the clouds and take an introductory economics course. Jobs come BEFORE better neighborhoods, not the other way around.
  • Posted By: Shocked...Congrats Virg...and I mean that with the utmost sarcarism...I do not live within the city of Lansing, thus could not vote but had I been able to I would not have voted for him. I am a city of Lansing employee and Virg has done NOTHING for the cities employees but cut jobs, benefits...take take take. Nor for the city in general...His motto in the last election was "Lansing Works" ironic that ALL of the construction on Michigan ave was done by scab's from Grand Rapids, and let's mention all the mums he planted along that road to the tune of $30,000.00 that only lasted one year and then died because they were not properly winterized, so the next spring they all got dug up, thrown away and more were planted to the tune of another $30,000.00. Tax payers money hard at work there. City employees have been working without a contract for nearly three years, no raises in site but his staff got a 20% increase last year alone...WAY to GO Virg...shame on you and your corrupt misguided politics...
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