Squadron, Electeds, & Community Board 3 Tour Busy Nightlife Neighborhoods WITH Sla Commissioner

Squadron, Brewer, Silver, Hoylman, Kavanagh, Glick, Chin, and Mendez Highlight Quality of Life Concerns

Tour Provides Context for Liquor License Applications in The Lower East Side And East Village

MANHATTAN – On Friday night, State Senator Squadron, Borough President Brewer, Assemblymember Kavanagh, Assemblymember Glick and Council Member Mendez, as well as representatives of Assembly Speaker Silver, State Senator Hoylman, and Council Member Chin, in cooperation with the 5^th, 7^th and 9^th Precincts and Manhattan Community Board 3, toured the Lower East Side and East Village with State Liquor Authority Commissioner Kevin Kim to highlight the quality-of-life challenges associated with an over-saturated nightlife scene, and give the Commissioner a better understanding of the neighborhood when making future license application decisions.

Commissioner Kim was able to get a first-hand understanding of the impacts of a high density of bars, restaurants and nightclubs on the neighborhoods’ quality-of-life. Community Board 3, which covers the area, consistently has one of the highest numbers of 311 commercial noise complaints in the city.  In the year ending October 17^th, there were 2,707 complaints filed, the highest in Manhattan.

“Great neighborhoods are made up of great neighbors, which is why it’s so important for the SLA to consider the whole picture of a community before making decisions about liquor license applications,” said State Senator Daniel Squadron. “Striking that right balance is so important to a neighborhood’s quality-of-life. I thank Commissioner Kim for coming here on a Friday night to see for himself, and the NYPD, Community Board 3, and my colleagues for joining me on this tour.”

“I’m glad to join in showing Commissioner Kevin Kim the reality of the noise and bar complaints in Community Board 3 – and I look forward to working with the State Liquor Authority, CB3, my elected colleagues, and NYPD to address community concerns,” said Borough President Gale Brewer.

“It is important our newest SLA commissioner get a first-hand look at the quality-of-life problems faced by many Lower East Side and East Village residents because of the proliferation of bars in this area,” said Speaker Sheldon Silver. “It is one thing to hear testimony from a hearing; it is something quite different to be on the ground and witness what happens on our streets every weekend. Community Board 3, as well as other local boards, does an excellent job voicing the concerns of residents when it comes to SLA licenses and I urge the commissioner to give their recommendations the weight they deserve. I want to thank Senator Squadron for organizing this tour and for his efforts on behalf of our community.”

"I'm grateful to Senator Squadron, SLA Commissioner Kim, my other elected colleagues, CB3 and the NYPD for organizing and participating in tonight's fact finding tour of problem bars and restaurants in the East Village and Lower East Side,” saidState Senator Brad Hoylman. “The information we gather is extremely important because the vibrancy and essential neighborhood character of these neighborhoods depends on public policy makers making informed judgments."

"We thank the State Liquor Authority for joining our regulatory fact-finding bar crawl," said Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh. "We'll continue to work with the SLA, the Community Board, residents, responsible business owners, and all of our elected colleagues to make sure that our neighborhood's status as a nightlife destination doesn't impose undue burdens on Lower East Siders."

“I’m pleased to have the opportunity to show Commissioner Kim firsthand the conditions that exist because of the overwhelming number of licenses the State Liquor Authority has authorized, and I look forward to working with my colleagues, the Community Board, the NYPD, and the SLA to ensure that violations will be addressed moving forward.,” said Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick.

“As oversaturation of bars and nightlife on the Lower East Side continue to impact the residential community, it’s vital to give the State Liquor Authority a firsthand look at these conditions,” said Council Member Margaret Chin. “Friday’s walkthrough with Commissioner Kim has provided him with a deeper understanding of the noise and congestion faced each night by residents, and I will continue to work with my elected colleagues to support the residents and urge the SLA to be more aware of the Lower East Side’s extremely high density of nightlife establishments and the resulting negative impacts on the neighborhood. While I certainly understand that not all Lower East Side bars are bad actors, this is an issue that must be addressed, and Friday’s walkthrough was a positive step forward.”

“I applaud SLA Commissioner Kim for joining Community Board 3 and local elected officials to witness firsthand the impact that the saturation of bars and restaurants with liquor licenses has on the quality of life of community residents who reside in my colleagues’ or my districts,” said Council Member Rosie Mendez. “I hope that we continue to work together to examine how to maintain economic development and commercial diversity while maintaining an adequate quality of life.”

“Community Board 3 is very grateful to Senator Squadron, the 5^th, 7^th, and 9^th Precincts, and Commissioner Kim for the opportunity to drive through the CB3 nightlife hotspots,” said Susan Setzer, District Manager for Community Board 3. “The drive-through was valuable in showing that the problem is not just the operation of business or behavior in bars, it is the number of people on the streets going from bar to bar in our unplanned entertainment district.  The drive-through illustrated why we need support from the SLA as well as from the City to avoid further exacerbating the problems of residential/nightlife conflict cause by lack of planning and infrastructure support.”