Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
A recent (June 11) meeting billed as a forum for addressing noise complaints drew a full house of bar, restaurant, and club owners from the East Village, Lower East Side and Chinatown.
Held at the rooftop lounge at Mr. Purple in the Hotel Indigo on Orchard Street, the session offered local business operators the chance to hear directly from city agencies about best practices, regulations and resources related to nightlife noise management.
Representatives from the 7th and 9th Precincts, Community Board 3, the Department of Environmental Protection's Economic Development and Environmental Compliance team, the State Liquor Authority, and the NYC Office of Nightlife participated in the event. (The 5th Precinct was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.)
The bulk of the discussion focused on noise concerns — from loud music and bass vibrations to lines and street noise outside establishments. A slideshow presented during the session cited 2,500 bar and restaurant-related noise complaints filed in the area last year after duplicate and anonymous 311 complaints were filtered out.
Topics covered included enforcement protocols, current fine structures for noise violations ($2,000 for a first offense, $4,000 for a second, and $6,000 for a third), and available mitigation programs such as MEND NYC, which offers free mediation between businesses and residents, and CURE, which supports coordinated conflict resolution among establishments.
Officials shared several updates and reminders, including a ban on speakers in outdoor dining spaces and insurance coverage requirements for roadside dining. The State Liquor Authority also discussed its enforcement and disciplinary approach, which it described as aimed at fostering "temperance."
A brief Q&A followed, with business owners from spots including Pianos, JoyFace, the Wiggle Room and Donnybrook weighing in on line management, use of stanchions and barricades, OATH hearings, and police support in handling disorderly patrons.
Some attendees expressed frustration with bureaucratic hurdles and conflicting guidance from various city agencies. One recurring question — whether bar owners could find out who was reporting them to 311 — was quickly answered: No.
Pedestrian bottlenecks caused by ID checks and patron screening outside busy venues were also raised, though no clear solutions emerged.
Extra time was given to questions about mitigating noise and managing lines. "We don't say 'no lines' to be mean," said CB3 District Manager Susan Stetzer. "This is a residential community — you have to respect your neighbors."
Attendees were encouraged to contact 911 when necessary and to make a visible effort to resolve issues. "Try to be a good neighbor," said one rep. "Residents will be more forgiving if you make an attempt."
After the session, reactions were mixed. Some business owners said they found the meeting useful, while others said it offered little in the way of new information or practical solutions.
Previously on EV Grieve:
1 comment:
Same old, same old. These businesses are in business to make money and they have to balance noise issues affecting neighbors with their bottom line. Some are more considerate than others. Some care and others could care less. Let them complain if they have a problem and we won't respond and will not do anything unless we feel forced to .
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