Saturday, May 11, 2013

Judge orders SLA to issue liquor license to LIC strip club

From the Daily News:

The owners of a controversial Long Island City strip club could be one step closer to getting a long-coveted liquor license.

But civic leaders pledged this week to continue their fight against Show Palace, the glitzy, all-nude eatery that cropped up in the shadow of the Queensboro Bridge.

Last month, a Supreme Court judge rejected the State Liquor Authority’s decision to deny a license to 21 Group Inc., the owners of Show Palace.

Local lawmakers and others argued a strip club conflicted with the neighborhood’s new, family friendly rebirth.

However, Judge Manuel Mendez said the reasons outlined by the State Liquor Authority in its 2012 decision were not enough to justify its rejection.

“The denial of an application for a liquor license cannot be based solely on community reaction and the views or recommendations of elected officials,” Mendez said in a decision handed down last month.
Mendez also said the SLA had not proven its concerns that other so-called unvetted straw owners could have pumped money into the club.

Patrick O’Brien, chairman of Community Board 2’s City Services and Public Safety Committee, said he was told the SLA will appeal the judge’s decision.

3 comments:

Joe Moretti said...

I love this: "Local lawmakers and others argued a strip club conflicted with the neighborhood’s new, family friendly rebirth."

I lived in Long Island City for 14 years,before the development and after the development. First off not everyone who lives there are "family friendly". Second, when you moved into that community, most of those places were already established, so you knew that going in. Just deal with it. More than likely most of the people complaining do not even live near those places and second when I was there, there were no issues what-so-ever with those establishments.

I dislike like unruly bratty little white kids, especially whiny little white boys and I hate huge SUV type baby strollers, but I am not trying to get a ban on either (although the whiny little white boys is not a bad idea).

This is the problem with full blown gentrification.

Anonymous said...

"Mendez also said the SLA had not proven its concerns that other so-called unvetted straw owners could have pumped money into the club."

That is the reason to deny an application? That can be true of any bar, club or restaurant that applies for a license to operate.

Anonymous said...

I thought a license wasn't allowed if there was full nudity?