City wins legal battle with nightclub

A federal judge upheld the city’s revocation of the Moulin Rouge

restaurant’s entertainment permit Monday, arguing that the karaoke

bar had failed to prove it had a reasonable chance of winning its

legal battle with Huntington Beach.

Club owner Bill Pham filed the lawsuit after the City Council

revoked his entertainment permit during a heated Aug. 16 public

hearing. Police Chief Ken Small told the council that the Adams

Avenue bistro and bar had racked up more than 63 police complaints

since January, including dozens of noise violations and several

fighting and assault charges. Small also testified that the club had

yet to pay more than $6,000 in fines, and several neighbors told the

council that excessive noise from the club was keeping them up at

night.

Pham told the council he was unfairly targeted by the police

because the French bistro catered to a mostly Asian clientele.

On Sept. 2, Pham filed a lawsuit against the city, arguing that

his civil rights had been violated and asked the court for a

temporary injunction to reinstate the permit.

On Monday, Judge Gary Taylor denied the restraining order, calling

the city’s evidence “a difficult hurdle for [Pham] to overcome.”

City Atty. Jennifer McGrath said that means Moulin Rouge cannot

host karaoke or dancing unless it wins the upcoming lawsuit.

“From the city’s perspective, this is a great victory,” she said.

Pham did not return calls by press time.

City unions names council endorsements

The city’s largest public employment union has announced its three

endorsements for the Huntington Beach City Council race.

After a full day of interviews, the Huntington Beach Municipal

Employees Union chose incumbent Debbie Cook and candidates Steve Ray

and Don Hansen to endorse, adding that candidates Keith Bohr and Norm

“Firecracker” Westwell also fared well.

“We want to find people that are open-minded about city issues,”

union President John Von Holle said. “We want candidates that will

look on both sides before they vote for or against something.”

Two other city unions have also announced their endorsements.

Huntington Beach Police Officers Assn. President Russ Reinhart has

announced the union will be endorsing candidates Bohr and Hansen,

while the Huntington Beach Firefighters Assn. has chosen to endorse

only Bohr.

The activist group Huntington Beach Tomorrow is endorsing Ray and

Bohr, its President Ed Kerins said. Mayor Cathy Green said she is

backing restaurant owner Joe Carchio and Hansen and veteran

Councilman Dave Sullivan said he plans to support Hansen and Peter

Albini.

Candidate forum to be held Oct. 14

With the November ballot just around the corner, several local

civics groups are holding election-related events to get residents

prepared to vote.

A special forum for Huntington Beach City Council candidates will

be on Oct. 14 at the City Council Chambers from 7 to 9 p.m. The forum

is sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the American Assn. of

University Women of Huntington Beach, and is the only public chance

for all 16 candidates to come together and discuss local issues. The

forum will also be broadcast on HBTV-3.

The Orange’ County Registrar of voters will also host several

forums to teach residents how to use electronic voting machines that

will be in place this election. On Oct. 4 and 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. and

again on Oct. 14 from 5 to 8 p.m., volunteers will have three

machines on hand to show residents how the devices work. The event

will be at the Huntington Beach Elks Lodge at 7711 Talbert Ave. All

are welcome to attend.