It’s hard to explain to a group of SRO tenants who have put up with a noisy nightclub and are deeply skeptical of government’s ability to help that a result which keeps the club open – despite the owner admitting he broke the law – is a “victory.” Last night’s suspension hearing at the Entertainment Commission ended sooner than expected when Club Six’s attorney, Mark Rennie, admitted during his opening statement that the Club had violated the Noise Ordinance. Because this was the heart of the whole controversy, the Commission immediately moved to the penalty phase and the parties settled.
Club Six agreed to a 30-day suspension, but the Commission voted to put it on probation for the next four months and in the meantime will stay open. But if the Club exceeds the noise level even once during that period, the Commission will hold an expedited hearing and shut it down for 30 days – with the right to try for a second offense (60 days). It was a victory that low-income tenants who worked hard to demand respect for their neighborhood should be proud of. But for many of the tenants who had anxiously awaited a hearing for months and had hoped to see the City enforce the fullest extent of the law, it felt like an anti-climactic bust. And now I need to tell them why they should be thrilled. [more]->
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