SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. — Dozens packed the city commission meeting in Safety Harbor Monday night to support a local restaurant after it was given a noise violation over outdoor music.
The night at 'Bar fly' played out much like it has most of this year: a live band outdoors, then a call to dispatch to complain about the noise, and deputies coming to tell 'Bar fly' to turn it down.
Except this time, around 9 p.m., the co-owner of the building was given a noise violation with a court date.
"They call me at 9:17 p.m. and say the police are here, and I'm like, 'what?'" said Hooman Hamzehloui.
In response, supporters sandwiched into the Safety Harbor city commission meeting Monday to end what they say is harassment.
"I happened to be downtown. I heard the band, I was there, I heard them with my own ears, they were not louder than any other band," said one supporter.
After questions about why Pinellas deputies issued a citation, Deputy James Davis addressed the crowd.
"[Deputies] were called Friday night, and they were called again on Saturday night and for whatever reason, maybe the music wasn't lowered enough but he decided to issue an ordinance violation," he said.
His comments didn't help tamp down the mood, and after supporters said their piece, they swore they wouldn't back down.
"It's unfair the way they are picking and choosing how to apply these rules," said Keegan Ritz.
The current ordinance says noise can't be "loud and raucous" to a "reasonable person with ordinary sensibilities," which frustrated supporters because the restaurant is on Main Street in downtown Safety Harbor, where other restaurants play music.
They say the complaints come from a few long-term residents who are weaponizing the ordinance because they don't like that downtown has been revitalized.
'Bar fly' isn't planning to change any outdoor music plans at this point, including bands scheduled for this weekend.