The city of Baltimore is treating Latino businesses unfairly, according to some Latino business owners in the region. The owners claim the city is targeting Hispanic-run establishments, often shutting them down for illegitimate reasons.

Accusations of Discrimination

Fells Point, a community within Baltimore, has seen a pattern of discrimination against Latino businesses, according to the Hispanic Business Association of Maryland. Latino business owners have complained to the HBA that city officials and police have unfairly targeted and shut down Latino businesses in the community over what proprietors believe are minor code violations.

One such business owner, Nicolas Ramos, complained that his restaurant, La Rumba, was closed after being subjected to a pattern of harassment and excessive use of force. Ramos appeared on Monday at a news conference with HBA's attorney, Gilberto de Jesus, calling out the city for treating upstanding Latino owners like criminals.

"We are concerned about raids by police," said de Jesus, as reported by HispanicTrending. "We're not criminals. We have established businesses."

Ramos said his bar and restaurant was raided by more than a dozen police officers on three occasions last month. All the incidents occurred during peak business hours without warning. Each time, police shut down the bar and ordered customers to leave. Ramos claims the police used minor infractions as justification for shutting down his business every time. Causes included lacking toilet paper in the bathroom, having a broken hot water heater and failing to pay a previous fine.

City Says Shutdown Due to Unsanitary Conditions

City officials said Ramos' restaurant was closed because of unsanitary conditions, based on complaints from the community, as part of the city's Social Club Task Force. Sean Naron, a spokesperson for the city's Health Department, said La Rumba was infested with pests and operating under an expired permit.

"The inspection of La Rumba revealed rodent and roach infestations, operation without a permit (expired), no hot water in the restroom, and general unsanitary conditions," stated Naron. "The violations observed during the operation of the facility would close any food service facility."

Other Latino Entrepreneurs Join Claim

But other Latino business owners are joining Ramos, saying that the community is being targeted. Luis George, owner of another now-closed restaurant called Punto G, said he wasn't permitted to renew a liquor license. Someone had complained about dancing in the bar, which technically counted as live entertainment and is not permitted under his license.

Enrique Ribadeneira, the owner of Latin Palace, another local establishment, said he's felt undue pressure from city officials as well.

"We think we have been singled out," he said, adding that Baltimore has "made it difficult for a business to prosper."

The business owners called on Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to stop the harassment and excessive force. But the mayor's spokesperson, Howard Libit, rejected claims of a larger controversy, limiting the issue to one restaurant with repeated health code violations.

"The mayor has a clear track record of being supportive and making Baltimore a welcoming city," said Howard Libit.

"This is an issue involving one business that has repeated violated health department regulations and has created conditions that are unsanitary for both patrons and workers," he added. "The expectation is that the health department and other agencies are going to enforce these codes."