Episode Details

**Clay Edwards Show – Episode 1219**  
**Focus: Jackson Nightclubs vs. the City of Jackson and Jackson Police Department**

During the show, Clay Edwards discussed the growing tension between bar and nightclub owners in Jackson and city leadership, particularly the Jackson Police Department and the new police chief. He framed it as businesses being forced to solve problems that he believes should be handled through normal city services.

### The Situation Clay Described
Clay spoke with a bar owner in North Jackson whose establishment is located in a strip mall with multiple bars. Recent shootings in the shared parking lot have hurt business, including one incident where a young woman who had recently graduated high school was killed during a post-graduation party. Clay noted that in most cases, the violence occurs **outside** the bars after people leave the premises — not inside the venues themselves.

He pointed out that several of the bars in the area (including well-run spots like the Hideaway, Fourth and Goal, and Capital Grille) already maintain security inside their establishments. The problems arise in the common parking areas of the strip mall.

### The City’s Position
According to Clay, the new Jackson Police Chief has pushed for bars and nightclubs to hire additional private security or off-duty police officers at the businesses’ own expense. The idea is to reduce the department’s involvement in handling issues at these locations. Clay also mentioned that open-container rules previously signed by Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba have contributed to the problem, as some patrons now feel entitled to drink in parking lots.

### Clay’s Argument Against the City’s Approach
Clay strongly disagreed with shifting the full burden onto business owners. His main points were:

- Businesses already pay property taxes and sales taxes to the city and are therefore entitled to basic police services, just like homeowners.
- Making bars pay for extra off-duty officers (reportedly around $475 per night, with multiple officers often needed for larger lots) places an unfair financial strain on small business owners.
- The violence is happening in public or semi-public spaces (parking lots), and the city should provide proactive policing in known problem areas rather than forcing businesses to cover the cost.
- A police precinct is located nearby, so regular drive-through presence should be feasible without requiring businesses to pay extra.
- Jackson often treats businesses — especially entertainment venues — as adversaries rather than partners. Clay said, in effect, that when you operate a business in Jackson, you are “in business against Jackson.”

He contrasted this with the Belhaven and Fondren areas, where Capitol Police maintain a visible presence. Clay argued that this proactive approach has helped those districts remain safer and more successful, and he questioned why similar support isn’t extended to other parts of the city.

### Clay’s View on Responsibility
Clay acknowledged that bars should handle security **inside** their venues. However, he maintained that once people leave and enter the parking lot or public areas, it becomes a broader public safety issue that the city and police department should address. He said businesses cannot reasonably be expected to control behavior after patrons get into their cars and leave the property.

He also noted that well-run bars are already spending significant money on internal security and that additional mandates could push some establishments out of business or force them to relocate.

### Overall Takeaway from the Discussion
Clay presented the conflict as part of a larger pattern in Jackson where the city expects private businesses to compensate for weak enforcement and public safety shortcomings. He argued that the focus should be on stronger proactive policing in high-risk areas rather