Sunday, October 08, 2006

N.Y. State Tries To Close TriBeCa Bars For Being Too Close to a Mosque

By DAVID LOMBINO - Staff Reporter of the Sun
The New York Sun, March 7, 2006

Some established TriBeCa bar owners are scrambling to find a legal loophole that will allow them to hold onto their liquor licenses after the State Liquor Authority moved to revoke the licenses upon learning that the bars are within 200 feet of a mosque.

The neighbors who informed the State Liquor Authority about the mosque's presence, Peter and Janna Townsend, are owners and residents of the building at 1 White St., a four-story townhouse about a half a block from the mosque, surrounded by bars and restaurants. The Townsends discovered the state's 200-foot regulation on the Internet as they were mounting a challenge to the Liquor Store Bar, which was seeking a license to reopen nearby. Its application was rejected by the state, and the bar now sits dark and empty despite a costly interior renovation.
Ms. Townsend defended her actions. "I want this to be about quality of life in a neighborhood that is mixed use. There are businesses here and residents here. There needs to be a balance of uses. Those of us that need to sleep here should be able to sleep here," she said.

As part of the process of applying for a liquor license, prospective bar owners must assert that they are in compliance with the law. The owner of the Bubble Lounge, a 10-year old bar whose license is being challenged, Eric Benn, said his establishment is 192 feet from the mosque. Mr. Benn said his business is in jeopardy.
"We're looking forward to the government getting off our case. It's getting to be rather repetitive - they take a great deal of money from us and then we get harassment," Mr. Benn said. "It is impossible to detect that there is a mosque there; not even the Community Board knew."

Since 1990, the two-story white-painted building at 245 West Broadway with drawn Venetian blinds and a locked gate has housed the Sufi mosque, Masjid al-Farah. The gold lettering on the front door does not contain the word "mosque," but it is registered as a religious not-for-profit corporation with the state and federal government.
An administrator for the mosque, Kris Jones, said a lawyer representing the mosque submitted a letter to the state clarifying the uses of the building. She said that in addition to being a place of worship, the building serves as a space to feed the homeless and host interfaith meetings.
"We don't have a dispute with any of the neighbors. We are here to support them. Our main thing is to be neutral," Ms. Jones told The New York Sun. "We don't want anyone to lose their jobs."

The state also moved to revoke the license of Cercle Rouge, a French bistro that shares a wall with the mosque. There are mixed reports about whether the state also issued a summons to Tribeca Tavern. The highly rated restaurant Montrachet did not receive a summons because it predates the mosque.

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Sunday, October 08, 2006

N.Y. State Tries To Close TriBeCa Bars For Being Too Close to a Mosque
By DAVID LOMBINO - Staff Reporter of the Sun
The New York Sun, March 7, 2006

Some established TriBeCa bar owners are scrambling to find a legal loophole that will allow them to hold onto their liquor licenses after the State Liquor Authority moved to revoke the licenses upon learning that the bars are within 200 feet of a mosque.

The neighbors who informed the State Liquor Authority about the mosque's presence, Peter and Janna Townsend, are owners and residents of the building at 1 White St., a four-story townhouse about a half a block from the mosque, surrounded by bars and restaurants. The Townsends discovered the state's 200-foot regulation on the Internet as they were mounting a challenge to the Liquor Store Bar, which was seeking a license to reopen nearby. Its application was rejected by the state, and the bar now sits dark and empty despite a costly interior renovation.
Ms. Townsend defended her actions. "I want this to be about quality of life in a neighborhood that is mixed use. There are businesses here and residents here. There needs to be a balance of uses. Those of us that need to sleep here should be able to sleep here," she said.

As part of the process of applying for a liquor license, prospective bar owners must assert that they are in compliance with the law. The owner of the Bubble Lounge, a 10-year old bar whose license is being challenged, Eric Benn, said his establishment is 192 feet from the mosque. Mr. Benn said his business is in jeopardy.
"We're looking forward to the government getting off our case. It's getting to be rather repetitive - they take a great deal of money from us and then we get harassment," Mr. Benn said. "It is impossible to detect that there is a mosque there; not even the Community Board knew."

Since 1990, the two-story white-painted building at 245 West Broadway with drawn Venetian blinds and a locked gate has housed the Sufi mosque, Masjid al-Farah. The gold lettering on the front door does not contain the word "mosque," but it is registered as a religious not-for-profit corporation with the state and federal government.
An administrator for the mosque, Kris Jones, said a lawyer representing the mosque submitted a letter to the state clarifying the uses of the building. She said that in addition to being a place of worship, the building serves as a space to feed the homeless and host interfaith meetings.
"We don't have a dispute with any of the neighbors. We are here to support them. Our main thing is to be neutral," Ms. Jones told The New York Sun. "We don't want anyone to lose their jobs."

The state also moved to revoke the license of Cercle Rouge, a French bistro that shares a wall with the mosque. There are mixed reports about whether the state also issued a summons to Tribeca Tavern. The highly rated restaurant Montrachet did not receive a summons because it predates the mosque.

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