BAY CITY -- Bay City leaders are working with the police department to address safety concerns in light of this past weekend’s brawl early Sunday morning on Midland Street. You saw the explosive web video of the street fight on a story that broke on NBC25 News at 6pm on Monday.
City Commissioner Kevin Novellino has been pushing the issue ever since he shot the now infamous video, involving crowds that attended the Westown nightclub. He talked with Police Chief Michael Cecchini on Monday following the incident.
“He’s working on ordinances,” Novellino said.
The new rules would place more responsibility on bar owners and the crowds they draw into their establishments. Novellino said this past fight was one of many that have developed in the last year, largely from crowds frequenting Westown on nights that hip hop music is featured. He thinks there is a connection.
“In a lot of large communities where you do have the hip hop music playing, they tend to experience an up tick in violent crime and assaults.” NBC25 spoke with the bar’s owner, Jay Samborn, off camera Monday afternoon. He said their hands are tied once the crowds spill into the streets.
Westown is not the only bar to play hip hop music. Several other establishments play that form of music if they don’t have a live band performing to entertain the crowds. Meanwhile city officials are also addressing the decrease in police presence with recent cuts made to the department this past summer.
“I know we had to rely on the (Michigan) State Police and Sheriff’s office while police went to take care of another event in the city,” said City Commissioner Kathy Newsham, who represents the ward that includes Midland Street. That event was a shooting.
NBC25 will continue to follow this story.
