Nightlife legislation in New York City

A New York City law was enacted in 2006, affecting many aspects of nightlife. This legislation was enacted in response to a number of murders and violent crimes involving nightclubs and bouncers, which occurred in the New York City area. One of the first measures to come about was a 3-point plan proposed by New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn in her August 8, 2006 memorandum.[1]

Background

In early 2006, a young child, Nixzmary Brown, was murdered. It had occurred within a short time of another murder of a young criminology student. The recollection of Brown's murder was refocused in February after another murder was brought to the New York City public's attention—the brutal torture, rape, and strangulation murder of Imette St. Guillen, a John Jay College graduate student—whose killing and associated lurid details later captured the nation's attention.[2] St. Guillen's murder, related to a bar and a bouncer with a criminal record, would strongly bring the public focus on New York City's nightlife. There were protests against The Falls bar for the bar owner's lying to police[3] followed by initial discussion of nightlife.

The June 18 murder of a 16-year-old named Chanel Petro-Nixon, and then the July 25 rape-murder of another student, 19-year-old Jennifer Moore, gave cause to public concern and the publication of an article series, "Wasteland", written by the New York Post.[4] A Post columnist, Andrea Peyser, speculated that the three murders were connected:[5]

“ It's open season on young girls. An 18-year-old was found murdered this week in Jersey, allegedly by a man who took her from Manhattan after a night of underage clubbing. In February, graduate student Imette St. Guillen was taken from a SoHo bar and killed, allegedly by the bouncer.

But the case of Chanel Petro-Nixon stands out for three reasons: She went missing in broad daylight, blocks from her house – not at night, coming out of a bar.[5]

 ”

Such articles discussed fake I.D. use, alcoholic drinking among underage teenagers, and discussion of New York City nightlife in general. Some of the Post articles mentioned accounts of gun-shooting violence involving bouncers. One such bouncer, Stephen Sakai,[6][7] used a gun to kill some club patrons at Opus 22, further bringing the public's focus on nightlife and bouncers. Sakai was later convicted and sentenced to 90 years in prison.[8]

In November 2006, Sean Bell, an undercover police officer was shot and killed. These and other incidents were reported as occurring in bars and nightclubs[9] and continued during 2007.

In 2009, seventeen-year-old Nyasia Pryear-Yard, an honors student, was shot to death while attending a party at the Elks Plaza Club in Brooklyn.[10] A suspected gang member, who investigators believe may belong to either the Bloods or the Crips, had brought a weapon past security.[10] The family called for stricter safeguards for late-night parties.[10]

Places

Columbia University

The Columbia Spectator mentioned that the Radio Perfecto bar closed while the nearby Village Pourhouse bar was left open.[11] According to the Spectator, the former-mentioned bar closed while the latter bar stayed open.[11] There were attempts to balance students and the local crowds of people, as well as neighborhood residents; there were also attempts to update the security of area bars.[11]

Chelsea nightclubs

The New York Post focused on 16-year-olds attending nightclubs, specifically in the Chelsea section of western Manhattan.[12] It was divulged that it was very easy for teenagers to obtain fake I.D. cards.[12]Several bar owners were interviewed on the problems of verifying the legitimacy of the I.D. card, as the cards were very convincing in appearance; identity theft was also discussed.[12] The New York Times, in one article, called the nightclubs "playground[s]" fraught with dangers such as drunk young women leaving clubs in the early morning hours.[13]

Senator Nicholas Spano had scheduled a hearing on September 7, 2006 to discuss the existing liquor laws and how these laws were being enforced.[14] Mention in the article was made of both Moore and St. Guillen.[14] Spano discussed the Chelsea nightlife areas and liquor laws, focusing on underage drinkers.[14]By September 2006, the Nightlife Summit had been discussed on one website catering to nightlife,[15] as well as the City Council's own website.[16]

In the Post's "Wasteland" series, one of the front page headlines featured a photo of Jennifer Moore, juxtaposed with one showing a young teenage girl lying drunk on the sidewalk, along with a story on how common this occurrence was.[4] One city block allegedly had 5,000 young people entering a bar on that block every weekend night.[4]

Councilwoman Melinda Katz sought to change the minimum age for entry into bars from 16 to 18 years of age.[17] Ron Bookman, who represented the New York Nightlife Association, then accused Katz of grandstanding and predicted that her legislation would never get beyond the draft stage.[17] Bookman wanted all the legislators to attend the summit hearing in September 2006.[17] He disagreed with the report's recommendations and felt that officials would use the recommendations to unfairly target bars.[18] A further article also discussed underage drinking, mentioning murder victim Jennifer Moore.[19]

Incidents

Scores West nightclub, located on West 28th Street, reportedly had their liquor license suspended by the State Liquor Authority for allowing prostitution on their premises.[20] Undercover policemen discovered women selling sex in the various club premises.[20] Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Walter Tolub granted a stay of the SLA order pulling the license of the club.[21] Pending an appeal by the SLA, the club can continue to serve alcohol.[21]

A man was stabbed repeatedly by several women during a violent confrontation near the Vesta nightclub, on 29th Street and Eighth Avenue, on March 21, 2008.[22] Possibly 30 people were involved in the incident, which resulted in the man being sent to the hospital in critical condition.[22]

Laura Garza, a 25‑year‑old, went missing on December 3, 2008, having been last seen leaving a nightclub named Marquee at approximately 4:00 a.m., allegedly with a registered sex offender.[23] In April 2010, the remains of Garza's body were found by the police.[24]

Factors

Fake I.D. card abuse

Fake I.D. cards had been discussed in connection with Moore and her access to clubs even before her death.[25] Moore's death reportedly had little effect on teenagers' behavior, the view of teenagers seeing the clubs as "cool", the provocative clothing being worn by young women and how that enhanced a club's reputation, some of these women's employments in clubs, and Chelsea nightlife in general.[25] The Bergen Record stated:

“ It's not that kids have never before tried to finesse their way past the bouncers at New York's downtown clubs for a night of fun and drink. It's been done a million times and all it took was borrowed credentials – or a forged license – in the wink-and-nod nighttown of Chelsea, the West Village and Tribeca.[26] ”

The New York City Police Department were, by 2007, focusing on fake ID use, and in doing so, arrested teenagers in Chelsea and padlocked Club Crobar, Pink Elephant and Club Sol for numerous drug violations.[27] They were backing laws proposed by the City Council, regarding expanded powers. The NYPD wanted the New York City Council to give them expanded powers under the Nuisance Abatement Law, which would enable them to close businesses where violent crimes had been committed, as well as businesses that sell fake I.D. cards.[28]

In March 2007, more legislation to enforce security, and prevent the misuse of I.D. cards was being considered, and Bloomberg indicated that he would sign these bills.[29] By October 2007, Quinn was backing a state lawmaker's proposal to revoke the alcohol licenses of establishments serving underage drinkers.[30]

The New York Post also reported that it was easy to steal identities from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.[4] There was much ease in obtaining such IDs, and Long Island state Senator Charles Fuschillo Jr., an anti-ID-theft crusader, was caught unaware of this fact.[4] A DMV spokesman said there was no plan to stop the program or to make it more secure, because duplicate licenses needed to be made for legitimate motorists and that it was illegal to possess multiple people's driver's licenses in any case.[4]

Democratic Queens Councilwoman Melinda Katz started drafting legislation on drinking, outlawing the practice of nightclubs that required patrons to purchase bottles of alcohol to guarantee seating. Eight out of the twelve clubs in and around Chelsea that were surveyed by Katz's staff imposed the "bottle service" requirement, including the club where Moore had last been seen.[31]

Bouncers

Bouncers were also discussed as a possible factor to underage drinking.[32] Bouncers are doormen and can allow or disallow people into a bar establishment. This was a factor in St. Guillen's murder. Sakai's firearm shooting of bar patrons was also discussed.[33] Sakai, as was previously mentioned, was sentenced.[8]

On November 14, 2007, it was reported that, around the city, bars were changing their regulations based on City Council and Police recommendations.[34]

Legislation and legal actions

Quinn followed up her initial August 8, 2006 memorandum with another memorandum, which called for additional safety and mention of an upcoming Summit Meeting. The measures taken in that memorandum included:[35]

  1. Curbing underage drinking[35]
  2. Improving club safety[35]
  3. Increasing street and transportation safety[35]

Spano scheduled a hearing for September 7, 2006 to discuss existing liquor laws and how they were being enforced.[36]

Later, a "Nightlife Summit" was held in St. Guillen's alma mater, John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Attendees included Quinn, who had organized the summit; Commissioner Kelly; John Feinblatt, Mayor Bloomberg's criminal-justice coordinator; David Rabin, president of the New York Nightlife Association and co-owner of Lotus; Nightlife Association founder, Andrew Raseij; and various club owners among others. They made these points:[37]

However, Kelly was against the idea of using off-duty police because, as he had said, it was illegal and would breed corruption between cops and bar owners. Another opponent to the recommendation, Mayor Bloomberg's criminal-justice coordinator John Feinblatt, said that "it violates the law". Rabin indicated that it didn't have to be a NYPD security detail specifically, but that security was urgently required.[37] Club owners also wanted Bloomberg to create an "Office of Nightclub Affairs", which would operate as a liaison between the industry and government. It was mentioned that approximately 65 million people visit New York City bars and clubs each year, and that it created $10 billion profits for the city annually.[37] Both parties in the discussions agreed that more action was needed to curb underage drinking, including the elimination of fake IDs and the raising the age limit for bars and clubs.[37]

There was also a discussion about creating a campaign to remind clubgoers to keep quiet when leaving bars and to call the police if there is a safety issue. Some bar owners also complained that the smoking ban made it more difficult to keep the streets quiet at night. Quinn said:

“ I know that we can make nightlife safer in the city of New York. We are not interested in putting the nightlife industry out of business in the city. In fact, when I met with Imette St. Guillen's mother, she made a point of the fact that that is not what she wants.[37] ”

The council eventually introduced four pieces of legislation to help combat these problems, including Imette's Law, which required stronger background checks for bouncers. Among the legislative actions taken were the requirement of ID scanners, security cameras, and independent monitors to oversee problem establishments. It also enacted the following plan:

Meanwhile, the murder of Moore put more focus on New York City's nightlife. Issues brought to the forefront of public thinking in that case were underage drinking and fake identification cards being obtained by teenagers illegally to obtain access to bars.

Immete's Law

On March 14, 2007, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino signed Imette’s Law, a legislation named after St. Guillen that would make it mandatory for nightclub and bar owners to conduct criminal background checks on bouncers and to set up security video cameras outside the establishment. This law was proposed by Boston City Councilar Michael Flaherty and was passed unanimously.[38] Imette's Law was also enacted in New York State.[39]

New guideline book

A new guideline booklet, NYPD and Nightlife Association Announce “Best Practices,[40] was unveiled on October 18, 2007. This voluntary rule book included a 58-point security plan drafted in part by the New York Nightlife Association, was further recommended by Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and Speaker Quinn. Security measures included cameras outside of nightclub bathrooms, a trained security guard for every 75 patrons and weapons searches for everyone, including celebrities entering the clubs. The new regulation resulted in stricter penalties for serving underage persons.[41][42][43]

NYPD Club Enforcement Initiative

The Club Enforcement Initiative was created by the NYPD in response to what it referred to as "a series of high-profile and violent crimes against people who visited city nightclubs this year", mentioning the July 27 rape and murder of Jennifer Moore. One article discussed the dangers of police work and undercover investigations.[44] Bloomberg had met with Kelly and community leaders to discuss how undercover police had shot Sean Bell and two of his friends as they had celebrated his last night as a bachelor outside of the Kalua Cabaret strip club in Queens, N.Y.[45] Bell, who was unarmed, was set to marry his high-school sweetheart and the mother of his two young daughters later that day.[45]

The Club Enforcement Initiative was later mentioned in an article discussing the impact and changes in nightlife, and discussed the death of Bell, along with mention of St. Guillen and Moore.[46] Residents of Chelsea, Manhattan, where there are many bars, were reportedly grateful for the increased police presence.[47]

The Club Enforcement Unit also tried to close another club named Stereo, after a patron was shot; four other clubs were said to have been breaking the new rules.[48]

ID scanners

In August 2006, the New York City Council started initiatives to correct the problems highlighted by the deaths of Moore and St. Guillen.[49][16] There was also discussions about electronic I.D. scanners. Quinn reportedly threatened to revoke the licenses of bars and clubs without scanners.[50]

NYPD Safety Manual update

In September 2011, the NYPD Nightlife Association updated their Safety Manual Handbook. There is now a section on counterterrorism; this addition came after the planned terrorist attacks on certain bars and clubs worldwide.[51]

References

  1. ↑ "Council Speaker Announces 3-Point Plan to Improve Nightclub Safety" (PDF). The Council of the City of New York Office of Communications. August 8, 2006. Retrieved August 8, 2006.
  2. ↑ "Latest in St. Guillen investigation". Dateline. Archived from the original on March 22, 2007. Retrieved June 8, 2007.
  3. ↑ "‘Shut The Falls,’ protesters say after murder". Downtown Express. March 17–23, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2006.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Wasteland: Blitzed in deadly teen party zone". New York Post. July 30, 2006.
  5. 1 2 "It's open season on young gals". The New York Post. July 29, 2006. Retrieved November 13, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Deadly nightclub shooting, bouncer in custody-One man dead, three others wounded". Eyewitness News 7online.com. May 24, 2006. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
  7. ↑ Shifrel, Scott (December 7, 2007). "Bouncer Steven Sakai guilty of murder". Daily News (New York). Retrieved March 20, 2008.
  8. 1 2 Gregorian, Dareh (December 16, 2008). "Killer Chelsea Bouncer Gets Life in Prison". Daily News (New York). Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  9. ↑ Wilson, Michael (July 28, 2006). "Being Alone Raises Perils in a Night on the Town". The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2007.
  10. 1 2 3 "Wake tomorrow for party-slay girl". Daily News (New York). January 22, 2009. p. 31.
  11. 1 2 3 "Bars Try to Balance Student, Local Crowd". Columbia Spectator Online. October 1, 2008. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved October 2, 2008.
  12. 1 2 3 Bradley Hope (August 8, 2006). "Clubs Go High-Tech To Stop Underage Patrons". The New York Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  13. ↑ Fernandez, Manny (July 30, 2006). "Chelsea Is a Playground, but One Where Perils Lurk". The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2007.
  14. 1 2 3 Kenneth Lovett (August 28, 2006). "Bar-probe Pol toasts The Post". New York Post. p. 23.
  15. ↑ "New York City Nightlife Summit". ClubPlanet NightlifeStyle Clubplanet.com. September 29, 2006. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  16. 1 2 "Speaker Quinn to Lead Summit on Strengthening Nightlife Safety" (PDF). The Council of the City of New York Office of Communications. September 28, 2006. Retrieved November 16, 2007.
  17. 1 2 3 "Bottle battle against clubs". New York Post. August 25, 2006.
  18. ↑ Stephanie Gaskell (December 28, 2006). "Hold the Phony! City Targets Fake-I.D. Kids". New York Post. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  19. ↑ "Pols Wield Club Want Promoters Licensed". The New York Post. December 29, 2006. Archived from the original on January 11, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2007.
  20. 1 2 Rouen, Ethan; Sherman, William; Mahoney, Joe; Standora, Leo (March 6, 2008). "Scores West loses liquor license for allowing prostitution on premises". Daily News (New York). Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  21. 1 2 Sherman, William (March 8, 2008). "Scores granted stay as appeal pending". Daily News (New York). Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  22. 1 2 Mfuni, Tanangachi; Rouen, Ethan (March 8, 2008). "Women beat, stab man outside club". Daily News (New York). Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  23. ↑ Gendar, Alison; Sederstrom, Jotham (December 6, 2008). "Brooklyn woman parties with stranger, vanishes after leaving Chelsea club". Daily News (New York). Retrieved December 8, 2008.
  24. ↑ "Laura Garza's remains identified by police". ABC News-Lucy Yang. April 27, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
  25. 1 2 Stephanie Gaskell (December 29, 2006). "Want promoters licensed". New York Post.
  26. ↑ Jeffrey Page (August 16, 2006). "Improving safety for New York club-goers". The Bergen Record - NorthJersey.com.
  27. ↑ Brad Hamilton and Angela Montefinese (January 7, 2007). "Wasteland Series – "Teenage Card Tricks", "Sweep vs. Club-Kid 'Fakers'"". The New York Post. pp. 6–7.
  28. ↑ "N.Y.P.D. backs laws to crack down on bars". Downtown Express. February 23, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  29. ↑ Stephanie Gaskell (March 1, 2007). "Clubs to Play It 'Safe' as Crackdown OK'd". New York Post. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  30. ↑ Edozien, Frankie (October 15, 2007). "Fake Kid-ID Crackdown". New York Post. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  31. ↑ David Seifman, City Hall Bureau Chief (August 25, 2006). "Wasteland (series) "Bottle battle against clubs" "Pol blasts 'dangerous' $300 rule"". New York Post. p. 27.
  32. ↑ "UNKNOWN". The Bergen Record. August 8, 2006.
  33. ↑ "Chelsea's Shootin' Bouncer: Now 300% More Murdery". Gawker.com and New York Times. July 13, 2006. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  34. ↑ "Bars Bend To Comply With City". Columbia Spectator Online Edition. November 14, 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2007.
  35. 1 2 3 4 "Speaker Quinn To Lead Summit On Strengthening Nightlife Safety" (PDF). The Council of the City of New York Office of Communications. September 28, 2006. Retrieved September 28, 2006.
  36. ↑ Kenneth Lovett (August 28, 2006). "Bar-probe Pol toasts The Post". New York Post. p. 23.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Stephanie Gaskell (September 29, 2006). "Clubs Seek Wild West Side Sheriff". New York Post. p. 11.
  38. ↑ "Menino signs "Imette's Law" requiring background checks for bar bouncers" (PDF). SLRA/Boston Herald/. March 17, 2007.
  39. ↑ "Bill A02629". New York State Assembly. January 21, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
  40. ↑ "NYPD and Nightlife Association Announce 'Best Practices'" (PDF). New York City Council. October 18, 2007. Retrieved October 18, 2007.
  41. ↑ "Nightclub murders give rise to 58-point security plan". Daily News (New York). October 19, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
  42. ↑ "NYC clubs agree with police: Even celebs should be screened". WorldNow eyewitness News WPRI.com. October 18, 2007. Retrieved October 18, 2007.
  43. ↑ "NYC clubs agree with police: Even celebs should be screened". Newsday. October 18, 2007. Retrieved October 18, 2007.
  44. ↑ Wilson, Michael (November 28, 2006). "When the Undercover Beat Is a Nightclub". The New York Times. Retrieved December 5, 2007.
  45. 1 2 "New York Mayor Promises 'Fair and Thorough' Investigation of Groom's Death". Fox News Channel. November 27, 2006. Retrieved December 6, 2007.
  46. ↑ "A Bad Night at Club Kalua-In the Sean Bell shooting, 50 bullets and many truths". New York-News and Features. February 24, 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2008.
  47. ↑ "With police on the beat, club beat still goes on". The Villager. October 4–10, 2006. Retrieved December 5, 2007.
  48. ↑ Yaniv, Oren (January 11, 2008). "Shooting death outside Chelsea club". Daily News (New York). Retrieved January 11, 2008.
  49. ↑ "Council Speaker Announces 3-Point Plan to Improve Nightclub Safety" (PDF). The Council of the City of New York Office of Communications. August 8, 2006. Retrieved November 16, 2007.
  50. ↑ Joshua Rhett Miller (August 9, 2006). "City's Club Crackdown". Metro New York.
  51. ↑ "NYPD, nightlife association update safety manual". Wall Street Journal-Associated Press. September 19, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2011.
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