Pull Muzik’s liquor licence: councillors
As deadline for working cameras arrives at the facility, two politicians start battle to go after nightclub’s booze.

thestar.com
Sept. 3, 2015
By Michael Robinson

As the deadline arrives for functioning security cameras to be installed at Muzik, two city councillors are making a move to remove the nightclub’s liquor licence.

Mike Layton and Gord Perks are now looking to have the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) suspend or revoke Muzik’s liquor licence. In a letter published online Thursday, the two councillors request that city council get the city solicitor to spur the AGCO to issue a formal proposal to yank Muzik’s alcohol privileges in the wake of last month’s shootings there that killed two people.

The club, which opened in 2006, has seen its recent operations particularly marred by violence and controversy. According to the two-page letter, the AGCO conducted 14 inspections of the establishment - on the CNE grounds’ Saskatchewan Rd. - between the years of 2012 and 2015; six infractions were logged, ranging in severity from narcotic use to permitting disorderly behaviour on the premises.

“The history of violence at Muzik nightclub makes it pretty clear to me and Councillor (Mike) Layton that it’s time to pull their liquor licence. They haven’t been operating safely for years, they shouldn’t be allowed to operate anymore,” Perks said Thursday.

“I don’t have another nightclub that has this kind of a record, whether it was private property or public property, I would be taking this action. The fact that it’s on city-owned property just makes it worse.”

Requests for comment from Muzik were not immediately returned.

Municipal Licensing and Standards will wait for direction from council before addressing the request, said city spokesperson Tammy Robbinson. She did confirm the city’s director of bylaw enforcement, John DeCourcy, met with AGCO and Toronto Police Service officials following last month’s shooting which left two dead and three injured.

Robbinson refused to elaborate on the nature or result of the gathering. “As this an ongoing investigation, we are unable to provide further details of that meeting.”

Layton told the Star the establishment’s security was one topic of discussion.

“My understanding is they went through the security concerns that folks had and looked for solutions,” said Layton, whose ward includes the nightlife establishment. “But as for specifics, I’m not sure . . . It’s not something that has been shared with me.”

Friday is the deadline set by the AGCO for Muzik to have functioning security cameras in place. Meanwhile, Layton and Perks aren’t the only councillors who have set their sights on the nightclub.

Councillor Jim Karygiannis, the representative Scarborough-Agincourt, has also taken up arms, albeit to fight a different battle in the wake of last month’s bloodshed at Muzik, which was hosting the official after-party for a concert by Drake at the nearby Molson Amphitheatre.

According to a notice of motion posted online ahead of Friday’s Exhibition Place Board of Governors meeting, the outspoken councillor has asked the board for a report detailing the landlord’s ability “to ban the OVO Fest after party and similar type (sic) of events” from taking place on the site’s grounds in the future.