TXU loves them some gangbangers [updated]

It's bad enough the City of Dallas, in its infinite wisdom and power, can't figure out the difference between a legally operating restaurant and an illegally operating bar claiming to be a restaurant on Lowest Greenville. After ten years, you would think - nay, pray - they would get it right.

Yeah, and BD is the Easter Bunny.

Apparently this lack of common sense also impacts megalithic power vendor TXU Energy. Since BD knows the zoning fight over a wind-turbine generator in his backyard would be the prelude to World War III, he has TXU as his energy vendor (remember when they used to call them 'the electric company'?). That said, his mailbox is always filled with useless self-effacing promotional garbage touting the benefits of being a TXU customer. Today's delivery was a little different - TXU is promoting the same gangbanger bars the City can't shut down.

In today's maildrop, BD received, as did many of his neighbors, a customer loyalty reward packet - three plastic cards good for discounts at local businesses. The first was Blockbuster, the second was La Casita, and the third (drum roll) was Ibero Ultra Latin Cuisine. The card promoted a complimentary lunch or dinner up to $24 when you buy another meal.

Here's a photo of the card, with apologies for the image quality:

Let's review the facts as they exist on the street. Ibero stopped being a restaurant earlier this year; it's now recognized as THE gangbanger bar to be seen (and beat up) in on Lowest Greenville.

Last June, Ibero was busted for having patrons drinking inside after-hours, and refusing to let the police inside (this time they claimed the door was stuck; the manager ignored DPD orders to open the front door while patrons went out the back door.)

Three weeks ago, a meeting of the Tango Blast gang had to be interrupted by the Dallas Police - who had to beat on the door for five minutes while the patrons were locked inside watching a fight. The manager pulled his best No habla ingles routine, but eventually DPD got in and arrested five TB members.

Two weeks ago, Code Compliance and Dallas Fire / Rescue conducted a sweep of problem businesses in the neighborhood, and - yes, wait for it! - found Ibero did not have a valid Certificate of Occupancy. There's no official confirmation they renewed it after the sweep, nor does the City's Certificate of Occupancy website list them as getting one in the last two months.

Update - 12-5-09: Sources tell BD that Ibero had a Certificate of Occupancy in the name of Ali Baba World Cafe, the previous occupant of the location. Ali Baba abandoned Lowest Greenville and moved east to Abrams Road nearly three years ago, so why did the City let Ibero operate under the old name. These same sources also confirm that a City Attorney who was part of the team that visited bars and restaurants that evening told DPD the lack of a current CO was not sufficient grounds to close the business down.

BD's not sure who this guy is, but last time we checked, every business on Greenville Avenue has a valid Certificate of Occupancy in order to open their doors. It may be based on false information (eg claiming the business is a restaurant when it's really a bar) but at least it's current and has the right business name on it.

Sources also tell BD that Ibero Bar owner Alex Salinas has gone dog - he carries a digital video camera and documents what he claims is DPD harassment of his establishment. DPD sources tell BD that Ibero is the only club on the street that does not even make a faint effort at improving the area, for example by not posting the same dress code all the other clubs (good and bad) are applying to their guests. Salinas attends the DPD sponsored 'Come to Jesus' meetings, where all the trouble reports are reviewed, but has consistently pulled the race card out to show he is being picked on.

BD wonders out loud if Salinas is using his position as an alternate member of the City's Board of Adjustment to get special treatment when it comes to Code Compliance and enforcement issues.

And inquiring minds want to know - Does anyone at Building Inspection even ask to look at the business and see if the so-called kitchen is really being used???

A phone call to the vendor that organized this promotion for TXU yielded no information, and the service rep had no idea if their salespeople actually sat down in the businesses they promote (or enjoyed a good bloody fight with their drinks).

TXU's media relations department sent BD this official statement late Wednesday afternoon...

TXU Energy sincerely apologizes for this misunderstanding. We worked with a Entertainment Publications to provide a thank you gift for our loyal customers. Anyone who would like a replacement offer for Ibero may call Entertainment Publications customer service directly at 1-800-396-3443. The replacement offer will be a Savings Spree Book that contains a total of 24 additional coupon offers that will be mailed directly to the customers.

The promotion has an escape clause, just in case some unsuspecting patrons walk into this club looking for dinner and end up being the 10pm three-rounder with a hoochie-mama/gangbanger tag team. On the back of the promotion, in the fine print, you will find...

Entertainment [the vendor that created the promotion] disclaims all alleged liability for bodily injury or property damage resulting from any accident, event or occurrence on, or resulting from the use of the premises of the participating businesses.

That is commonly known as the CYA Clause.

Before the end of the year, BD will reconsider his energy provider, finding one that promotes family-friendly restaurants instead of gangbanger bars.