LA HABRA : City Action Against Bar Is Called Racist

Owners of the Leaky Tiki bar accused the City Council last week of racism in revoking their entertainment permit.

“We will fight this in court,” said Janet Escobosa, an owner of the bar. “Until three months ago, I ran the only Mexican bar in La Habra where you can listen to Mexican music and speak Spanish. (The City Council) is discriminating against us.”

But council members, who voted unanimously to strip the bar of its permit, denied the accusation, saying the bar lost its license because of criminal activity, disorderly conduct, lack of security guards, poor management and numerous police calls.

“This has nothing to do with race,” Mayor William D. Mahoney said. “It’s wrong . . . to believe that there is anything racial in this matter.”

Police make more arrests at the Leaky Tiki than at any other bar in the city, Capt. Terry Rammell said.

“We make a high number of narcotic arrests at the Leaky Tiki on a continuing basis, and we do not feel management of the bar is responsive to the needs of the community,” he said.

The bar’s problems escalated with a murder attempt on New Year’s Eve, according to city officials. Police said no one from the bar called them when five men used a baseball bat to assault a patron inside the bar.

Despite the attack, the victim, Aureliano Avila Ramirez, other bar patrons and Escobosa’s family all pleaded with the council not to revoke the bar’s entertainment permit. Escobosa presented the council with a petition of support signed by 230 residents and business owners.

Escobosa may reapply for an entertainment permit in six months. Meanwhile, her pool tables and jukebox cannot be used. She said she will probably challenge the decision in court.