Accusations of racial discrimination marred the Auburn City Council meeting on Sept. 4.
During citizens' communication, Councilman Arthur Dowdell and his wife, Antwameka, brought up a complaint with the council concerning non delivery of goods by Domino's Pizza located at 310 W. Magnolia Ave. to the Dowdells' residence at 909 Pleasant Ave. in Auburn.
Councilman Dowdell claimed Domino's would not deliver food to his house on Aug. 31 because the general manager, Chris Daughetry, claimed two robberies had recently occurred in the same area.
After checking with the city and an independent source, Councilman Dowdell said he could find no record of a robbery occurring on Pleasant Avenue recently.
"The record does not show that any robbery has occurred," Dowdell said. "...So why does Domino's think that black people are thieves and robbers?"
Dowdell claimed this was the third time his family had been denied service, even though Domino's had delivered to their house many times before.
"The first time, we let it slide," Dowdell said. "But the second and third time, we have brought it here (to city council) to be remedied."
Dowdell threatened to assemble supporters to protest in front of the Domino's this Friday and possibly take out a racial discrimination lawsuit if no action was taken by the city and the council.
"We live in a good neighborhood," Dowdell said. "We feel that we should just be treated equal to the college students or anybody else who wants pizza and hot wings."
Rev. Larry Taylor said he supported Dowdell's decision, but wanted protesting to be a last resort so Auburn did not look like a segregated city.
"We ain't got time for racial discrimination," Taylor said. "This needs to be stopped."
Mayor Bill Ham claimed he had not heard about the previous incidents of racial discrimination until they were brought up that night.
City Manager Charles Duggan said he had dealt with Domino's before on other incidents of non delivery and that he had been provided information that a crime may have occurred in the area some time ago.
Duggan visited Domino's after the council meeting and Daughetry confirmed they do not deliver to certain areas after dark, including Pleasant Avenue.
"I asked Daughetry if he was following Domino's corporate policy and he said yes," Duggan said.
Duggan said Daughetry said he did not feel his decisions were racially motivated and that minority staff members agreed with the policy.
Duggan said this is the first time he has heard of a business in Auburn refusing to deliver to a certain area.
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