ATLANTA, Ga. (CBS46) On Monday, Atlanta city leaders are expected to meet with business owners to discuss a proposed law that could shut down businesses that have experienced frequent gun violence.
If the ordinance is approved, the city would have the authority to close establishments with two or more reports of violent activity within a two-year period, officials said.
The ordinance also applies to businesses in Atlanta that may close due to loopholes such as property ownership or business name changes.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta police and fire officials brought together industry leaders and business owners at a nightlife training session Saturday to discuss ways to keep the city safe.
As part of Atlanta Nightlife, Saturday’s training focused on deescalation, active shooter situations and stopping life-threatening injuries at Atlanta nightclubs and businesses.
Mayor Dickens announced the initiative in April to help curb violence in the city’s nightclubs and neighborhoods.
“We want to see this city grow. This nightlife economy is important to Atlanta and for people to have good, safe and fun places to go,” said Mayor Dickens.
The meeting comes a month after police say a triple shooting at a Buckhead restaurant left one person dead and two others injured. Among those injured was Chaka Zulu, a prominent Atlanta music executive and manager of rapper Ludacris.
Killer Mike, an Atlanta rapper and well-known community activist who owns several properties in the city, has previously spoken out against the potential legislation.
Killer Mike, whose real name is Michael Render, was introduced by the Atlanta City Council’s Public Safety Committee in May in an ordinance that described small clubs as the backbone of Atlanta’s hip-hop industry.
Mayor Dickens initially launched the Nightlife Class to train bar, club and restaurant staff on how to keep their establishments, customers and staff safe.
Industry leaders told CBS46 training is essential to keeping the violence out of their businesses.
“We have a lot of customers who come from concerts and natural things and maybe they have been drinking, which allows our staff to deal with this type of situation and our leaders to reduce those. Situations, we plan to train our staff,” said the exec chef of Rosie’s Cafe.
In July, the Atlanta Police Department offered citywide neighborhood safety training in an effort to reduce crime and keep residents and visitors safe.
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