Squadron’s bill would cork rowdy bars and clubs

By Michael Mandelkern

Downtown bars attract tourists and locals that howl as loud as wolves well past midnight, but the New York State Legislature is trying to help residents near the nightspots get a more peaceful night’s sleep by encouraging bars to keep the “wolves” at bay.

The state Senate passed a bill on June 24 that sets guidelines for the State Liquor Authority to revoke the licenses of routinely raucous bars and clubs.

If Governor David Paterson signs the bill — co-sponsored by state Senator Daniel Squadron and Assemblymember Robin Schimminger — into law, the S.L.A. could shut down nightspots if police are called at least six times within two months for excessive noise and disorderly conduct.

Squadron, a Democrat who represents Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, has been striving for solutions to the issue since being elected.

“Right now it’s very, very difficult to distinguish between places that are and aren’t a problem,” he said. “It’s even more difficult to do something about it.”

The S.L.A. could still revoke licenses for fewer than six serious incidents in 60 days, and the bars could still operate with more than six less-severe complaints.

And nightlife operators no longer would have to be directly culpable for infractions in order for a police referral to the S.L.A. to put a mark on their record. ...

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