Houston bar owner Seyed Ghoreishi is speaking out against the City of Houston's crackdown on Washington Avenue businesses, claiming that some locations are being targeted unfairly. The enforcement efforts, initiated by Mayor John Whitmire a year ago, aimed to reduce reckless behavior on weekends.
However, instead of seeing an improvement in safety and quality of life, Ghoreishi believes that his business has been specifically singled out for attention. In May, he was arrested for allegedly failing to comply with municipal health and sanitary standards due to bugs and insects in his establishment - a claim he disputes, as court documents reveal the case was dismissed without probable cause.
Ghoreishi fears that the aggressive enforcement is targeting businesses on weekends when they are busiest, which could be devastating for struggling small businesses. "They seem to be targeting the days we know we're going to be busiest," he said. "If they shut us down, it could be a make-or-break night."
Despite the concerns, both Ghoreishi and Stacie Fairchild, president of Super Neighborhood 22, Washington-Memorial coalition, agree that improved public safety and quality of life are key goals for enforcement efforts. They suggest working with bars and clubs to target drunk driving and ensure compliance with licensing mandates.
In a statement, the mayor's office acknowledged their ongoing work to ensure safety but did not directly address business owners' concerns. The City is continuing to collaborate with agencies to achieve this goal.
However, instead of seeing an improvement in safety and quality of life, Ghoreishi believes that his business has been specifically singled out for attention. In May, he was arrested for allegedly failing to comply with municipal health and sanitary standards due to bugs and insects in his establishment - a claim he disputes, as court documents reveal the case was dismissed without probable cause.
Ghoreishi fears that the aggressive enforcement is targeting businesses on weekends when they are busiest, which could be devastating for struggling small businesses. "They seem to be targeting the days we know we're going to be busiest," he said. "If they shut us down, it could be a make-or-break night."
Despite the concerns, both Ghoreishi and Stacie Fairchild, president of Super Neighborhood 22, Washington-Memorial coalition, agree that improved public safety and quality of life are key goals for enforcement efforts. They suggest working with bars and clubs to target drunk driving and ensure compliance with licensing mandates.
In a statement, the mayor's office acknowledged their ongoing work to ensure safety but did not directly address business owners' concerns. The City is continuing to collaborate with agencies to achieve this goal.
. This dude Seyed Ghoreishi is talking about his bar being targeted specifically, while other spots on Washington Ave might be getting a free pass? That doesn't add up 
. And let's not forget, the whole thing started when he got busted for some minor infestation issue – now it seems like an excuse to crack down on small businesses that are already struggling 
. Can't we just focus on addressing the real problems, like drunk driving and proper health protocols? I mean, who doesn't love a good party 
, but safety first, folks!
u gotta wonder why this is all happenin on weekends? It's like they're tryna catch bar owners off guard. I mean, i get it, no one wants a bunch of crazy people runnin around, but targeting specific businesses? That's just not right. What about the legit businesses that do their part to keep the area safe? The ones that don't have bugs and insects crawlin' everywhere like Ghoreishi's place? It's all about discriminatin' against those who are tryna make a buck.
... i mean, i get it, safety and all that, but u gotta think about the little guy here... Seyed's been runnin his bar for years, buildin a community, and now he's gettin targeted for bein kinda busy on weekends? like, what's wrong with makin some cash?! 
. gotta make sure they're helpin out the small businesses instead of shuttin them down 
. I've been to Houston a few times and loved the vibe, especially in Washington Ave - now I'm not so sure if I'll be back 
. And let's be real, if the City is gonna crack down, they should at least make sure it's fair and not targeting specific areas or businesses, especially on busy weekends when it could kill small business owners 
this whole situation just doesn't seem right 
. bars and clubs are supposed to be fun places for people but when they get shut down or harassed unfairly 
it's gotta impact foot traffic and revenue for those struggling small businesses 
maybe instead of shutting them down, we should see more support and resources to help businesses stay safe and compliant? 
. They should be working with these bars to make sure everyone's safe, not targeting 'em like they're some kinda troublemakers 
. One thing I do think is cool though - it's good that they're looking at ways to prevent drunk driving and make sure businesses are following the rules 
. And hey, at least it's not like he was caught doing anything crazy 
. I just hope they can work out a solution that doesn't hurt too many people 
.
. And if he disputes the charges, why hasn't he been able to prove it? It seems like there might be some validity to the enforcement efforts, even if they are targeting certain businesses on weekends.
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I think it's so unfair that this one bar owner is getting targeted like crazy 
i feel for him, i really do... maybe the city should try a different approach tho? like, work w/ bars & clubs to help ppl get home safe or somethin' 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around all the plot twists, you know? And I was thinking, have you ever noticed how they always show those fancy superhero lairs in the movies but never really explain how they pay for them? Like, who's footing the bill for all that tech and security? 
anyway, back to the point - I think this whole thing is kinda fishy (pun intended). The city's trying to crack down on bars and clubs, but it feels like they're picking on some specific spots. Washington Ave's got character, you know? 
This crackdown on Washington Avenue businesses sounds super unfair to me 
. What do you think? Should we all chill out and support each other 
But seriously, it's not cool when businesses are singled out based on their weekend hours. Small businesses need to be able to rely on some consistency from the authorities. If they get shut down even on weekends, it could be a disaster 
. I'm all for improved public safety and quality of life, but let's make sure we're not being too heavy-handed 
.