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.
Document Category: Department of City Planning
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.
Letters to City Planning 2019 Request Review of Dancing and Music Regulations
Fifteen months after repeal of the Cabaret Law, there was little evidence of reform of the Zoning Resolution and representative of the Department of City Planning at hearings held by the new Nightlife Office indicated no interest in studying the issue. Three letters were then sent to the Department.
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. The resolution included the following self-serving statement: “WHEREAS, the Council did all it could do to legalize dancing and entertainment in eating and drinking establishments when it repealed the Cabaret Law by passing Introduction 1652-A for the year 2017, to repeal the Cabaret Law and legalize dancing and entertainment”
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.