Seeking the Closure of the Dangerous Nightclub Sin Sin and a More Responsive SLA

In the wake of August's shooting death in front of Sin Sin nightclub at 248 East Fifth Street, I joined Assemblymember Deborah Glick and other local elected officials in sending a letter to New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) Chair Dennis Rosen outlining our concerns not only about Sin Sin but also about the overall liquor license approval process. The current system – which allows bars and clubs like Sin Sin to open despite cogent objections from the local Community Board, elected officials and neighborhood residents and to remain open despite persistent adverse effects on the surrounding community – is clearly not working. Our letter called for the SLA to give more weight to community board recommendations, especially where issues of violence in or outside of a given establishment have resulted in police action.

Ongoing problems within the immediate vicinity of Sin Sin are unacceptable, and I and my staff are continuing to work with the community, CB3, the NYPD's 9th Precinct, the SLA, and other elected officials to bring a permanent end to the dangerous environment that Sin Sin has fostered in the neighborhood.