Friday, October 07, 2005

Argh! CB7 Full Board Meeting

Some neighbors and I got to the meeting and there were two developers presenting. It was boooooooring. Two and half hours later, we grabbed a bite to eat. The cafe license was last on the agenda, and we were not even 1/3 of the way through. The bar owner wasn't even there - his architect was representing him (to be fair, the owner's wife was having a baby).

We got back. Meeting's over.

AAAAARGH!!!!

We spoke to Peter Jenkins and some character named Allen after the meeting. They gave us great advice. Penny Ryan, who's the CB7 District Manager, gave me great advice the next day too.

I even called the city 311 and another city department. I've had horrible experiences and wait times with this in the past, but instead I got transferred quickly to the right person. He was incredibly helpful too! Things have certainly changed (I hope).

Lesson learned: even if the bureaucracy fails you, make respectful, productive contact with people. That will not fail.

I'm hopeful.

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

An Opportunity: Cafe License application

I live above the Dead Poet at 450 Amsterdam, which has decided to apply for a cafe license. We already have problems with smokers' and drinkers' noise outside our building (sounds like their conversation is in my apartment!) as well as noise coming from the ceiling mounted speakers and A/C.

We have called the bar manager and police - actions that resulted in a 10 minute hush, or nothing at all. One cop told my neighbor, "get someone to beat up the owner, or move!"

On top of that the Dead Poet owner never bothered to let us, the tenants, know about the application, as required. I found out about the cafe license application from my monthly Community Board email (www.cb7.org).

I went around with a petition to oppose the license, and heard more stories about the Dead Poet cafe noise from 14 people on our block (who all signed the petition).

I'm bringing the petition to the full CB7 meeting that's happening Oct 6. Anyone from the community can speak at the public session. You sign up for 2 minutes.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

The General Situation

My neighborhood, Amsterdam between 80th and 82nd street, is an otherwise lovely set of blocks that's home to a number of bars: The Dead Poet, Gin Mill, Jake's Dilemma and Brother Jimmy's. Their patrons clog the sidewalk, fight, block building entrances, and make a lot of #&*$^ NOISE.

I have been a resident of the Upper West Side for nearly 14 years. Many of us have felt that the noise problems from these bars and restaurants have grown, and it's reflected in city statistics.

Turns out the noise complaints in our area has increased almost three-fold since 2002.

In 2002, the number of complaints to the DEP was 715.

In 2005, the number of complaints shot up to 2,096 !!



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Links to NYC stats:
http://gis.nyc.gov/ops/mmr/address.jsp?app=MMR (enter 81st street & amsterdam ave for our stats)
http://www.nyc.gov/html/ops/html/home/home.shtml

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