Deal to keep Bonham Exchange open in the works скачать в хорошем качестве

Deal to keep Bonham Exchange open in the works

A San Antonio City Council vote that could have given the Bonham Exchange more time to meet fire code requirements was postponed, delaying action on a nightclub at the center of a months-long debate over life safety enforcement and fairness. The postponement comes after a FOX SA investigation first raised questions about how the city is enforcing a fire safety ordinance that has been on the books since 2018. Under that ordinance, nightclubs with occupancies over 300 must install fire sprinklers or reduce capacity. The compliance deadline was October 2023. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones addressed the issue after the delayed vote, calling the Bonham a personal landmark but emphasizing that safety requirements cannot be ignored. “I personally reached out to Joan Duckworth to let her know, I’m willing to help you, but this place has to be safe,” Ortiz Jones said. The mayor said noncompliance with the fire code can disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ patrons, calling the Bonham a significant community space while warning that the stakes are life and death. “If it is not in line with the fire code the fire chief has recommended, you know who disproportionately gets impacted? Gay folks die or get hurt,” Ortiz Jones said. Ortiz Jones also said unsafe conditions inside a nightclub put first responders at risk. “If it’s unsafe for folks and for patrons and for employees, it’ll also be unsafe for firefighters that have to go in there,” she said. The mayor said there is already a signed compliance agreement in place and that the focus now is on completing the process and raising money to pay for the work, including sprinklers. She said she plans to help fundraise by making calls to donors and supporting community events. City officials issued a statement later in the afternoon saying, “We are reviewing the compliance agreement with Bonham Exchange and working toward finalizing tomorrow.” The mayor said the agreement allows for phased work, described publicly as an initial six-month period followed by up to another six months for the next phase. The Bonham has been one of several venues facing enforcement pressure as the city escalated compliance efforts, including citations and court filings. According to information referenced in city agenda materials, multiple cases have been filed and warning letters sent as part of a broader enforcement push. Six of seven noncompliant locations have entered compliance agreements or reduced occupancy, according to city records summarized in agenda documents. The Bonham has remained a focus of public debate as city leaders weigh historic preservation and economic impacts against uniform enforcement of a life safety ordinance. After the original FOX SA investigation, records requests were filed seeking emails, texts and other communications between District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur, the city manager’s office, the fire department and Development Services about enforcement decisions. The city sought permission from the Texas attorney general to withhold some records, then withdrew that request after an agreement that nightclub owners’ personal information was not necessary. As of this week, those communications still have not been released. Fines tied to the enforcement process can be significant, but the final amount is not known until cases are adjudicated. Under the ordinance enforcement framework, each fine could be up to $2,000. City officials did not immediately announce a new date for the postponed vote. _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: WOAI on Instagram:   / news4sa   WOAI on Facebook:   / news4sa   WOAI on Twitter:   / news4sa   Subscribe to WOAI on YouTube:    / @woaivideo   Daily News Playlist:    • WOAI 4 San Antonio Daily News Digest   For more information, visit https://news4sanantonio.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: NewsDesk@news4sanantonio.com Call the Newsroom: 210.442-6397 WOAI is a TX based station and an NBC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. #WOAI #NEWS4SA #NEWS4SanAntonio #WOAI4 #SanAntonio