The argument over whether the Selma City Council should decide to revoke the business license of downtown club 12th Stone is one that should be decided on facts rather than emotion.

Discussion leading up to Tuesday’s public hearing that began the debate on whether to revoke the business license was tainted with emotional comments in the community about the city council or the police department being on a “vendetta” to close downtown clubs.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The truth is the city and the police department want an environment that allows business to thrive and if there are businesses that are creating — or providing — an environment that allows criminal activity to thrive, then the problem must be solved.

At the same time, it must be the city’s responsibility — and that of its departments — to work with existing businesses to create that atmosphere for success.

They should be the ones to take the lead in building partnerships.

With that said, the evidence presented Tuesday was no doubt damaging to the arguments of 12th Stone keeping its license.

The charges that have been reported occurring in or just outside the club are all serious and run the gambit from misdemeanors to murder.

If the owner’s arguments that is not the club creating the problems, but rather the customers visiting the club, then it must be the club owner’s responsibility of changing the environment, attracting a different clientele.

The debate over this particular business license will be continued to the Sept. 13 council meeting, where the council will hold a public hearing at 3 p.m.

Let’s hope the decision reached is based on creating a better environment for business development, a decision reached for improving the quality of life in Selma and not one based on a vendetta, but rather the facts.