The New York State Liquor Authority has acted the major regulator of dancing in venues offering alcohol using a scheme that Liquor Licenses and a venues Method of Operation must show whether the venue is offering patron dancing and collaborates with Community Boards to restrict dancing and live music. The SLA collaborates with Community Boards in its enforcement.
Document Category: Community Boards
Basic Documents and Citations
Gathered here a citations, references to basic documents, and explanations found in the letter summarizing the need for reform of SLA and Community Board processes concerning dancing and music.
SLA States that Method of Operation Must Include Statement Allowing Dancing
Whenever a Community Board objects to a License Application, for example, to restrict dancing or live music, the SLA’s practices is to require approval by the SLA Board, thereby pressuring license applicants to agrees to excessive and even unconstitutional requirements of Community Boards.
Bar Association Committee Describes SLA and Community Boards Pressuring License Applicants
In 2018, the Committee on Hospitality Law of the New York City Bar Association submitted a letter to the Office of Nightlife describing ways in which the SLA and Community Boards Impose Conditions on License Applicants and predicting that the repeal of the Cabaret Law will result in the de facto continuation of a near prohibition of dancing within the City of New York.
State Liquor Authority – Method of Operations and License Database
The New York State Liquor Authority is the dominant regulator of music and dancing in New York City. Reform of the zoning law will not remove the SLA regulation. Over 1900 liquor licenses in New York City require licensed venues to prohibit dancing; over 9000 license do not allow live music.
Community Boards Ignore Chiasson Decisions Declaring Music Restrictions as Unconstituional
The New York City Community Boards in cooperation with the State Liquor Authority have ignored the decisions of Chiasson I and Chiasson II in in 1986 and 1988, implementing restrictions against live music declared as unconstitutional. Although the City amended its Zoning Resolution in 1990 reflecting the Chiasson decisions, the SLA and Community Boards have acted as a superseding zoning authority overriding the Zoning Resolution.
The New York State Liquor Authority – Method of Operation
The New York State Liquor Authority has acted the major regulator of dancing in venues offering alcohol using a scheme that Liquor Licenses and a venues Method of Operation must show whether the venue is offering patron dancing and collaborates with Community Boards to restrict dancing and live music. The SLA collaborates with Community Boards in its enforcement.