Extra, Extra
Extra, Extra
Extra, Extra
Extra, Extra
Early Addition
Whoa-- the New York State Liquor Authority has issued a fatwa against a bunch of bars on West Broadway in Tribeca. Their crime? Apparently they are located a little too close to a low-profile mosque located in one of the nearby buildings (the Sufi Masjid al-Farah at 245 West Broadway.). The SLA has issued summons to The Bubble Lounge, Cercle Rouge, and the Tribeca Tavern. Another bar, The Liquor Store, has already been denied a liquor license, preventing it from reopening after an ownership change last year. The Tribeca Tribune broke the story:
When bar or restaurant owners apply for a liquor license, they must swear that they are not violating the 200-foot law. If the SLA decides that the owner has falsified his application, he can lose his right to a license for two years. The West Broadway bar owners are pleading not guilty.Georges Forgeois, who owns Cercle Rouge, said he thought Sufism, a branch of Islam, was “more a philosophy,” rather than a religion. Besides, he said, several bars were already on the block when he moved in. “You cannot have someone spend all that money, then tell them that they can’t have their license,” he said. “That’s not fair.”
Tribeca Tavern owner Greg Kosovoi said that for 10 years he was unaware that a mosque was next door. Eric Benn, co-owner of the 11-year-old Bubble Lounge, said the same.
“None of us knew there was a mosque there,” he said. “What kind of research are we supposed to do? Do we knock on every single door?”
We understand that not everyone likes living near a bar-- but this seems like a really underhanded way to get rid of some businesses that have been a part of the neighborhood for years. [Related: reports:">the Post and Eater also have reports.]
add to digg
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
email this
add to facebook
add to del.icio.us
I never heard of this rule...since when did this happen? It sounds like a scam to me..
I have to side with the bar owners.
Does this rule apply to churches also?
am I in america? where am i...
The mosque in question looks nothing like a place of worship to my eyes. I've lived in the area for 10 years and I always thought it was a religious (sufi) bookstore. Nothing more or less. I can totally see how the bars in question could make the same 'mistake.'
Word? I'm going to use this to get rid of all the bars in my vicinity. Going to out all their loudasses. If someone had gotten rid of the Pioneer bar then Imette st. guillen would be alive today.
This is it folks. Islam has always differed from Judaism and Christianity in that the first two started as religions for the oppressed and the politically weak (slaves in Egypt, martyrs in Rome, etc.) while Islam started as a conquering relgilious and Political form of government. That's why, the great majority of muslim are very uncomfortable as a minority out of power. The Quoran itself teaches that, in such a case, muslims should lay low and lie if necessary until they can achieve final domination. Easiest thing to do is to use the West own rules,freedoms and guilt baggage to their advantage (as in the Al-Qaeda handbook).
Just a thought.
Oh, yeah, you can not say anything like this, lest you be accused of Islamophobia or racism, thus proving the original Islamic strategy to begin with.
The "neighbors" of White Street are really grasping at straws now! First they were just mad about the cafe licenses for Liquor Store and Cercle Rouge (read Tribeca Trib - July 2005), and now they're gonna wipe all the bars/entrances clean off of W. Bwy?? It's truly amazing the power these fascists wield with CB1 and the SLA!
It has been my observation that those who were the loudest, rowdiest, and least considerate of others when in their 20s are the same people who are the least tolerant of other peoples noise at age 35 and up.
It's unclear whether the mosque can, with any effectiveness, formally agree to waive the State Liquor Authority's rule before the situation gets out of hand.
Also from the Tribeca Trib:
"In the meantime, officials at the mosque said they have no objection to the nearby bars and have never had problems with them. A spokesman named Ali said the mosque would remain neutral in the dispute.
'We don’t dictate other people’s behavior,' he said. 'We believe in non-judging and tolerance.'"
The terrorists have won.
Yeah - Don't blame the Muslims. They're neutral in this fight. Blame those annoying neighbors. Those bars and restaurants certainly add to their property value by making the neighborhood more livable.
If they don't enjoy nightlife, maybe they should move to Wyoming . . .