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Play in the Flats operator says city boarded up venue after fatal shooting, affecting staff and livelihoods
Summary
The owner of Play in the Flats said city authorities boarded up the business after a shooting, calling the venue unfairly labeled a public nuisance and saying more than 40 employees were financially affected.
David Hill, speaking for Play in the Flats, told council members that the bar and event space was boarded up by the city after a recent shooting in the Flats.
“Being forced to explain, defend and carry the blame of people that we do not know” harmed his business and “the financial stability of over 40 other employees and their families,” Hill said. He added, “We are not all guilty by association. We are not a public nuisance.”
Why it matters: Hill said the venue provided a safe haven for patrons and that being described as a public nuisance led to immediate boarding and lost income for staff. The transcript records his appeal to council to reconsider labeling and the economic effect on employees; no formal action to reopen or rescind the boarding is recorded in the meeting.
Supporting details: Hill framed the closure as part of a broader pattern of being stigmatized and urged the city and council to recognize workers and the venue’s role in the community. The meeting record does not show a staff report, legal citation, or council motion about the boarding during this session.
