SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- Following a series of shootings and numerous legal complaints, the popular San Francisco nightclub “Whisper” will be shutting down on May 3rd.
Located on the 500 block of Florida Street in the Mission District, the club has been plagued by a series of violence. Two weeks ago, five men were injured early Easter Sunday morning when a shooter fired several shots into the crowd outside the building. All of the victims received non-life threatening injuries, but police were unable to release a description of the unknown shooter who remains at large.
Since then, Mission Station Captain Stephen Tachinni has requested more officers to patrol the area each weekend until the club closes with its goodbye bash. Audrey Joseph, President of San Francisco's Entertainment, says Tachinni has done “a great job by recognizing the situation,” but Matt Kumin, a representative for Club Whisper, says his client is getting a bad wrap.
“[The owner] has lots of security [and] he runs the inside of that club very carefully,” said Kumin.
Kumin says the real problem begins when people leave the premises of the club.
Violence outside nightclubs isn't new to San Francisco. Police have regularly stepped up patrols around clubs in the Mission, south of Market and North Beach neighborhoods.
In addition to an increase in police presence, city officials are continuing to address new legislation that would give the Entertainment Commission more power to shut down problem nightclubs.
Kumin says he is supportive of the new legislation, but says the city should focus on the bigger societal issue of a select few individuals who are bent on drinking at a club and causing problems outside.
(cfu)
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