If last week’s article on the lack of a sprinkler system at Santa Fe Café seemed a little familiar, it’s because Mark Srour, as he has for the past five years, tried yet again to avoid accounting for the safety of the patrons of one of his bars.
Since signing a contract with the city more than five years ago to install sprinklers in the bar, Srour has time and again evaded city council requests that he actually install a system. But in the last two weeks, two important events occurred that should – hopefully and finally – spur Srour into action.
A fire at Cornerstone Grill and Loft, also owned by Srour, has been shuttered since Aug. 3 as police investigate the incident as a potential arson.
Meanwhile, just a few days later, Srour skipped a city council meeting at which he was supposed to report on the sprinkler system at Santa Fe. The absence may have been one slight too many from the bar owner, as the city council began looking into taking legal action against Srour over the contract.
And it’s about time. While The Diamondback has criticized Srour in the past for his seemingly carefree attitude toward the safety of the patrons of his bar, the City of College Park has not done enough to hold him responsible for the installment of a sprinkler system. In fact, earlier this year, the council decided not to press Srour on the point, supporting the renewal of Santa Fe’s liquor license despite the lack of sprinklers.
It is our hope the city keeps this newfound resolve as it pushes Srour to install sprinklers. Anything less than Srour putting a new sprinkler system in place as soon as possible should be seen for what it is – an obvious evasion from someone who’s perfected the art.
And as the city, Srour and all his patrons learned from the fire at Cornerstone, the need for sprinklers in Santa Fe is not an issue the council should let slide.
