I've always known that there is something about me that grates on people, it's what makes me a decent writer and why I don't have any friends. Most of the time it works to my advantage, today is yet another example.
If you're a "local Latino" you might already know the background regarding boulevard clubs but for those of you who don't here goes: I recently wrote a story about Club Oasis for Dos Mundos that got a "bit" of reader reaction. Here's the version in Spanish and I don't think they've put the English copy up yet:
Violencia asola club en el boulevard
Basically, the story is a compilation of all of the shootings and two violent deaths that have taken place in front of the establishment over the past two years beginning with the most recent report of gunfire earlier this August.
Well, it turns out that the owners read the story and were pretty pissed. They placed a bunch of phone calls to Dos Mundos and were a bit upset about not being contacted for the story. Yesterday, one of the owners took a meeting with Clara (my boss) and claimed that nobody had tried to get in contact with him for the article.
BULLSHIT.
Thing is, I had to go down to that stinking hell hole two times and place more than two dozen calls in order to have one employee after another tell me "No, managers esta aqui" over and over and over. I felt sorry for the employees because the scared look in their eyes upon my request suggested to me that they were probably beaten for any indiscretion they committed. I don't have any proof for that statement but that's generally what it looked like . . . I'm somewhat of an expert when it comes to the non verbal communication of mojados.
Anyway, today I heard about the dust up and then Ed (the co-owner and designer) told me the proprietor of Club Oasis was just walking by the front doors of Dos Mundos and on his way to one of the other establishments he owns. Since the guy had decided to talk to my boss, I thought I should talk to him . . . Honestly, I just wanted to gauge how pissed off he was and maybe see if he wanted to do a follow-up article.
Damn, he was pissed. He and his brother were extremely (muy) pissed. The minute I introduced myself the shouting started. This just happened an hour ago so I'll try to relay the more interesting details but it was mainly a case of the guys calling me a liar and saying that it was my responsibility to be their secretary and wait at their beckon call for a response . . . Sorry folks, I'm on a deadline just like everybody else. I think they called me a thief, a liar, said I was unprofessional, told me I was irresponsible, said that they didn't want to talk to me only to keep on wagging their fingers at me and questioning the timing of my visits and calls. However, all of my information was correct and anyone familiar with the area knows that the club has been the subject of several neighborhood complaints. The guys yelled at me for not leaving a card with them but time and again they didn't return calls to Dos Mundos that other reporters had placed as well.
Toward the end of the conversation the owner (biggest guy of the bunch) got up in my face and tried the Mexican Standoff trick. I thought it was funny that the prospect of two Latino dudes standing no more than 5'11 would inspire such a chilling silence to come over the restaurant but in the end nobody swung . . . The intimidation tactic was actually a compliment because I was scared that this whole Internet thing was making me into a bigger nerd than I really am . . . In the end, I gave the guy my cell number and told him that if he had a plan to do anything about the violence that has surrounded the club then I would be more than willing to write the story. He sat back down to his lunch, still looking pissed and curtly told me "Yeah, we'll give you a call" and brushed me off.
I'm not holding my breath . . . And what I really learned is that my boss Clara has more integrity than anyone I've ever met working in the field of print journalism. This wonderful lady met with these guys who fancied themselves as intimidating, listened to their story and told them that she stood by what she published. In an era when everybody wants nothing more than press release copy published in newspapers Clara isn't afraid of to print stories that important (and oh so intimidating) business people in the community find offensive. I don't think I could ever tell her face to face how much I admire her and the reputation she has built for herself but I'm always glad to see her and I've always felt so lucky that 9 times out of 10 she smiles at me when I drag my ragged looking ass into the office.
This is some funny shit. I've actually been to that piss-bucket. I'm not sure what's more laughable: the fact that Oasis is ONLY NOW concerned about their "reputation" or that fact that anyone (including the owner) would dare eat in that place. It's like one huge dank basement and the whole place smells like urine.
ReplyDeleteBalls to you Tony.
ReplyDeleteI've met Mrs. Reyes and you are 100% correct about her. She is one of the reasons that things are getting better rather than going down hill.
ReplyDeleteNice post, Tony. With this writing gig with Dos Mundos really taking off for you, it's time to start calling you "medios viejo."
ReplyDeleteOhmygod! Being! A real reporter! Is! So! Hard!
ReplyDeletePlease. Go on and on about being coming with the real, about how bloggers have more guts and balls and don't have to bend to anyone and blah blah blah, and then you have to contend for five seconds with the consequences of actual journalism and you come running back all tear-stained and sweaty to your blog.
I'm cracking up over here.
Welp, guess we know for sure now the Pitch&Star "writers" read ya, Tony!
ReplyDeleteyou got a good editor.
ReplyDeleteTranslated article via BabelFish
ReplyDeleteOne recent shooting outside of the Club Oasis, located in the 28 streets and Southwest Boulevard is simply the last incident of a wave of violent acts that have happened in the popular place of the Westside.
The night of the 17 of August, an identified man outside did not receive a shot in the stomach of the club near the food salesmen who serve the clients to them who leave and enter of their cars. The police reported that there are no suspects and who the wounds of the man do not threaten their life.
The 31 of March of this year, a woman and her fiancè received manifold outside firings in jeep of the club. The pair handled until a near powerboat to request aid. The woman supposedly declared that his ex- fiancè was the author of the firings; and the police examined the subject in an investigation of domestic violence. The pair suffered serious injuries that to the last one were not fatal. Any arrest by the incident did not become.
In March 2005, a man outside received three firings in the chest from the bar to the 1 a.m.
The police gave a declaration of which an argument within the club –that implied several people– it transferred to the street. The identity of the man to mass media was not revealed, but it inquired that it died by the wounds. Any arrest was not reported and the police still is looking for the suspects.
In the 2004, the area directly outside of the Club Oasis had another mortal shooting. The shooting happened to 3 a.m. The witnesses reported that the firings were the result of a fight between two men. The men fought, one removed a pistol and both they fought by the possession of the weapon. The witnesses of the shooting declared that they ran towards within the club covering itself and that seconds later listened to the firing from the street like result of the argument. The shooting summoned up the life of Jonás Sanchez of 26 years of age, an inhabitant for a long time of Kansas City.
A near resident, that spoke with the condition for remaining in the anonymity, said that the club is a consistent source of preoccupation for the neighbors and who the violence is not the only preoccupation on which they live in the environs of the club.
“During the last years, followed there have been shootings in that place. They have had many problems and I wonder myself how have been fixed you to remain in the business”, commented a neighbor of the club. The man lives to a short distance of the establishment and indicates that the intense traffic and the noise also are a preoccupation for him. “It is a noisy place and in the morning pass hundreds of cars to high speed through the vecindario until the 4. He surprises to me that more people have not complained”.
Two Worlds tried to communicate with the management of the club to receive an answer, but the frequent calls did not obtain any answer. In multiple visits to the club, no manager nor the owners were present in the establishment.
What fucking losers the owners are. I have heard many stories of their business practices, including the restaurants they own. The place is shitty and so is their restaurant. The Westside has such culture for Kansas City, and these fucking ignorant owners have forgot just how bad the area used to be in recent years. They are the problem.
ReplyDeleteThe amazing thing is why anyone would go to this club. The owners treat their clientele like cattle and show no regard for their safety. This place has been cited for over-occupany several times in the past, and the procedure for any violence in the club is for security/bouncers to just shove everyone involved outside to settle up on their own. The shootings, that the owners insist always happen outside, ALWAYS start inside and ALWAYS invlove people who just left the club minutes prior.
ReplyDeleteYou should call and have them arrested for assault. You should watch your back T, these guys have a reputation of stupidity. Don't trust them or anyone in their family. Jódalos!
ReplyDeleteYou live in your mom's basement?
ReplyDeleteMayor Kay needs to eminent domain that place and put up some condos!
ReplyDeleteAnd we haven't heard from Tony since he took this "manly stand" and posted this entry.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmmmm.
You OK Tony?
who in the hell are u to call another mexican "ur own race" mojados? go fuck yourself fag!! I bet u look more mexican than rest of the people in there.
ReplyDelete