2006 nightlife legislation in New York City

In early 2006, seven-year-old Nixzmary Brown was murdered. This was within a short time of another murder of a young criminology student. The recollection of Brown's murder was refocused in February, after another murder was brought to the New York City public's attention: the brutal torture, rape, and strangulation murder of Imette St. Guillen, a 25-year-old John Jay College graduate student, whose killing and associated lurid details later captured the nation's attention. St. Guillen's murder, which was related to a bar and a bouncer with a criminal record, brought public attention on New York City's nightlife. There were protests against The Falls bar, accusing its owner of delaying investigation by lying to police. Public discussion of nightlife followed. The June 18 murder of a 16-year-old student, Chanel Petro-Nixon, and the July 25 rape and murder of another student, 19-year-old Jennifer Moore, gave cause to public concern and the publication of the article series "Wasteland," which was written by the New York Post. A Post columnist, Andrea Peyser, speculated that the three murders were connected: Such articles discussed fake I.D. use, alcoholic drinking among underage teenagers, and discussion of New York City nightlife in general. Some of the Post articles mentioned accounts of gun-shooting violence involving bouncers. One such bouncer, Stephen Sakai, used a gun to kill some club patrons at Opus 22, which further brought the public's focus on nightlife and bouncers. Sakai was later convicted and sentenced to 90 years in prison. In November 2006, Sean Bell was shot and killed. More such incidents that were reported in bars and nightclubs in 2007. In 2009, 17-year-old Nyasia Pryear-Yard, an honors student, was shot to death while attending a party at the Elks Plaza Club in Brooklyn. A suspected gang member, who investigators believe may belong to either the Bloods or the Crips, had brought a weapon past security. The family called for stricter safeguards for late-night parties. ==Places==

Columbia University The Columbia Spectator noted that Radio Perfecto had closed but that the nearby Village Pourhouse had stayed open. The article noted the attempts to balance students, the local crowds of people, and neighborhood residents and the attempts made to update the security of area bars. It was noted that it was very easy for teenagers to obtain fake ID cards. Senator Nicholas Spano had scheduled a hearing on September 7, 2006 to discuss the existing liquor laws and how these laws were being enforced. The article mentioned both Moore and St. Guillen. and on the City Council's website. Ron Bookman, who represented the New York Nightlife Association, accused Katz of grandstanding and predicted that her legislation would never get beyond the draft stage. A later article also discussing underage drinking again mentioned murder victim Jennifer Moore. Incidents Scores West nightclub, on West 28th Street, reportedly had its liquor license suspended by the State Liquor Authority for allowing prostitution on its premises. Undercover policemen discovered women selling sex in the various club premises. Pending an appeal by the SLA, the club was allowed to continue to serve alcohol. Possibly 30 people were involved in the incident, which resulted in the man being sent to the hospital in critical condition. In April 2010, the remains of Garza's body were found by the police. Hell Square The Office investigated complaints of rowdiness in a part of the Lower East Side called "Hell Square" in the 2010s. ==Factors==

Fake ID cards Fake ID cards had been discussed in connection with Moore and her access to clubs, even before her death. Moore's death reportedly had little effect on teenagers' behavior, and the view of teenagers saw the clubs as "cool," the provocative clothing being worn by young women enhanced clubs' reputation. It was backing laws proposed by the City Council that the police's powers. The police department wanted the New York City Council to give it expanded powers under the Nuisance Abatement Law, which would enable it to close businesses if violent crimes had been committed there and to close businesses that sell fake I.D. cards. In March 2007, more legislation to enforce security and to prevent fake ID cards was being considered, and Mayor Bloomberg indicated that he would sign the bills. By October 2007, Quinn was backing a state lawmaker's proposal to revoke the alcohol licenses of establishments that served underage drinkers. The New York Post also reported that it was easy to steal identities from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. There was much ease in obtaining such IDs, and Long Island state Senator Charles Fuschillo Jr., an anti-ID-theft crusader, was caught unaware of this fact. Bouncers Bouncers were also discussed as a possible factor to underage drinking. Bouncers are doormen and can decide whether people are allowed into a bar establishment. It was a factor in St. Guillen's murder. Sakai's firearm shooting of bar patrons was also discussed. On November 14, 2007, it was reported that around the city, the bars were changing their regulations, based on City Council and Police recommendations. == Legislation and legal actions ==

Quinn followed up her initial August 8, 2006 memorandum with another one, calling for more safety and mentioning an upcoming Summit Meeting. The measures taken in the latter memorandum included the following: • Curbing underage drinking Later, a "Nightlife Summit" was held in St. Guillen's alma mater, John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Attendees included Quinn, who had organized the summit; Commissioner Kelly; John Feinblatt, Mayor Bloomberg's criminal-justice coordinator; David Rabin, president of the New York Nightlife Association and co-owner of Lotus; Nightlife Association founder, Andrew Raseij; and various club owners. They made the following points: • The participants agreed that the police must help nightclub owners keep the peace. • Better regulation is needed of the $10 billion-a-year industry. • A new city office dedicated to the regulation might be created. • Club owners desired the police to provide a "paid-detail" to hire off-duty cops to patrol the area outside their bars. Imette's Law was also enacted in New York State. New guideline book A new guideline booklet, NYPD and Nightlife Association Announce "Best Practices, was unveiled on October 18, 2007. The voluntary rulebook included a 58-point security plan, drafted in part by the New York Nightlife Association, and was further recommended by Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and Speaker Quinn. Security measures included cameras outside nightclub bathrooms, a trained security guard for every 75 patrons, and weapons searches for everyone, including celebrities, entering the clubs. The new regulation resulted in stricter penalties for serving underage persons. NYPD Club Enforcement Initiative The Club Enforcement Initiative was created by the NYPD in response to what it referred to as "a series of high-profile and violent crimes against people who visited city nightclubs this year." The July 27 rape and murder of Jennifer Moore was mentioned. One article discussed the dangers of police work and undercover investigations. Bloomberg had met with Kelly and community leaders to discuss how undercover police had shot Sean Bell and two of his friends as they had celebrated his last night as a bachelor outside of the Kalua Cabaret strip club in Queens. Bell, who was unarmed, was set to marry later that day his high-school sweetheart and the mother of his two young daughters. Chelsea residents were reportedly grateful for the increased police presence of the many local bars. The Club Enforcement Unit also tried to close another club, Stereo, after a patron was shot. Four other clubs were said to have been breaking the new rules. ID scanners In August 2006, the New York City Council started initiatives to correct the problems highlighted by the deaths of Moore and St. Guillen. There was also discussions about electronic ID scanners. Quinn reportedly threatened to revoke the licenses of bars and clubs without scanners. ==NYPD Safety Manual update ==

In September 2011, the NYPD Nightlife Association updated its Safety Manual Handbook. There is now a section on counterterrorism, after planned terrorist attacks on certain bars and clubs worldwide. ==References==