The complete 160 page report may be downloaded at this link and is described at this ONL page. Comments: Excerpts relating to dancing and music are below. The Report, issued 3.5 years after the establishment of ONL and the repeal of the Cabaret Law, avoids specific recommendations at to changes to the zoning resolution. No… Continue reading Office of Nightlife (ONL) June 2021 Report
Document Category: Zoning Reform
Nightlife Advisory Board Report Summer 2021
In the Summer of 2021, the Nightlife Advisory Board issued its primary report, but opted to offer no specific recommendations as to revision of the zoning related to dancing, no position on the practice of prohibiting cover charges for live music in Use Group 6, and no mention of the overreaching regulation by the State Liquor Authority in collaboration with Community Boards.
Comment to CityLand Article Rezoning and Remnants of Cabaret Law of June, 2022
Alan D. Sugarman submitted this comment to an oversimplified article appearing in CityLand. The article ignores abusive regulation of dancing and music by the State Liquor Authority, with Community Boards, requiring licensees to comply with an approved Method of Operation, which regulation will persist even with changes to the Zoning Resolution … unconstitutional demands as to type of music and other issues.
Proposed Zoning Changes Cut Remnants of Cabaret Law “Foot” Loose – CityLand
Article in CityLand concerning proposed zoning changes.
Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery
Report from Mayor Adams of the City of New York dated March 10, 2022. Appears related to June 1, 2022 press release. Does not mention reform of zoning resolution concerning dancing.
City Council 2021 – Resolution re Amendment to Zoning Resolution to Allow Dancing
New York City Council 2021 Resolution 1728 calling upon the Department of City Planning to refer out, by the end of 2021, an amendment
to the text of the Zoning Resolution to allow dancing and entertainment as-of-right in all eating and
drinking establishments.
Mayor Adams Outlines Vision for “City of Yes,” Plan for Citywide Zoning Initiatives to Support Small Businesses, Create New Housing, Promote Sustainability
Press Release June 1, 2022 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today laid out a plan to use the city’s zoning tools to support small businesses, create affordable housing.
Nightlife-Loving Mayor, Offers Plan to ‘Let the People Dance’ New York Times, June 1, 2022
The New York Times published an article by Jeffery C. Mays and Julia Carmel on June 1, 2022 concerning Mayor Adams’ initiative to reform prohibitions against dancing in the Zoning Resolution. The article misses some important points, and, alas, for no reason as to the purpose of the article, repeats the debunked claim that the Cabaret Law targeted racially mixed jazz clubs in Harlem.
Letter to Council Member Reynoso February 28, 2020
Letter to City Council concerning lack of action in reforming the Zoning Resolution bans on dancing, after the 2017 repeal of the Cabaret Law which had little impact on increasing venues offering dancing.
Letter 3-06-2019 to Department of City Planning Requesting Review of Zoning Resolution re Dancing
Third letter to Department of City Planning discussing the 1989 changes to the Zoning Resolution made in response to the Chiasson cases striking down portions of the Cabaret Law as to music performances, and noting the lack of response to prior letters. There was no response to this letter. On conclusion is that the DeBlasio administration had no intention to move forward with removal or restrictions against dancing.