PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A Rhode Island licensing board has issued a vote of no confidence in their chairman after shots were fired near a Providence nightclub.
The Board of Licenses has closed the Penthouse Club for 72 hours following an emergency meeting after the incident last weekend. In a hearing Tuesday, the board cast a 4-1 vote to remove Juan Pichardo from his chairmanship position.
The vote comes the day after Democratic Mayor Jorge Elorza called for his resignation. Pichardo criticized the mayor in a statement before the vote, saying his comments were politically motivated.
Pichardo tells WJAR he believes he is receiving the brunt of the criticism because the board has not shut down the nightclub.
The board says they will decide Thursday whether to revoke the club’s license.
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