HOYLMAN AND GLICK INTRODUCE LEGISLATION REQUIRING AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE STATE LIQUOR AUTHORITY TO BE A RESIDENT OF NEW YORK CITY
March 21, 2017
NEW YORK – State Senator Brad Hoylman (D, WF-Manhattan) and Assemblymember Deborah Glick (D-Manhattan) introduced legislation today that would require at least one member appointed by the Governor to the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) be a resident of New York City.
The SLA, which consists of three Governor-appointed Commissioners, is responsible for regulating the manufacture and distribution of alcoholic beverages throughout the entire state. While more than half of the state’s 3,147 approved on-premises license applications in 2015 originated in New York City, there are no laws ensuring that the 8.5 million residents of New York City are represented on the Board. Hoylman and Glick’s bill would change this by amending the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law to ensure representation that is more equitable.
State Senator Brad Hoylman said: “New York City is responsible for more than half of all the approved alcohol licenses granted across our state. Given the overwhelming complexities of granting alcohol licenses in a way that meets the needs of establishments as well as the kaleidoscopic interests of five boroughs, 59 community districts, and hundreds of neighborhoods, New Yorkers deserve a seat at the table when these important decisions are being made. By requiring at least one member of the SLA to be a resident of New York City, my legislation with Assemblymember Glick will create a fairer and more equitable system of alcohol license distribution that keeps the interests of our state’s most populous city in mind.”
Assemblymember Deborah Glick said: “The SLA is tasked with a challenging and dynamic role of reviewing applications throughout the state and the realities of the unique conditions of New York City communities are very different than those in other parts of the state. With the majority of the on-premise license applications coming from New York City, it is imperative that local NYC communities have a permanent voice on the SLA. Many neighborhoods have a significantly higher density of licensed premises than anywhere else in New York State, and a New York City resident on the SLA would help inform the regulations of the SLA within NYC so we can continue to promote livable communities.”
In November, Senator Hoylman sent a letter to the Governor requesting that he use his appointing authority to nominate a City resident to fill the vacant Commissioner position on the SLA Board, which has relied on just two since the retirement of Commissioner Kevin Kim, a New York City resident, in August.
