Synagogues Vs. Summer Concerts At Asser Levy Park

Photograph by Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates

Two Brooklyn synagogues have filed a lawsuit against the City of New York and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz over Markowitz's free summer concert series at Asser Levy Park in Brighton Beach. The suit contends that the concert series violates noise codes "which prohibit the use of electronic sound amplification equipment at any location within 500 feet of houses of worship during hours of worship." The synagogues are a mere 300 feet away!

The suit says, "In violation of the law, these concerts"—which include "Electronic sound amplification equipment," "sound-checks and rehearsals"—have coincided with the hours of worship of Plaintiff Congregation Sea Breeze Jewish Center and with the hours of worship of Plaintiff Congregation Temple Beth Abraham." Plaintiff Ida Sanoff said, "It is very sad that Mr. Markowitz has no compassion for the thousands of people whose community and quality of life will be hurt by his actions. He is unconcerned about flouting laws that protect the sanctity of religious institutions," while plaintiff Al Turk said, "We are not against concerts—just not right across the street from two synagogues... A year ago we met in good faith to negotiate with Mr. Markowitz but all he did was stone wall us. Our borough president is not above the law."

Markowitz, who is gearing up for the first concert on July 15 (Neil Sedaka and Brenda Lee!), told the Post, "The show will go on! I never would have thought that in my lifetime a Jewish synagogue would try to take away joy and happiness from tens of thousands of Brooklynites out of spite."

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By Jen Chung in News on June 18, 2010 5:50 PM

Comments [rss]

justthinkin

Congregation Sea Breeze Jewish Center? Maybe Marty should have booked Jimmy Buffet instead of Neil Sedaka.

Kevin Bracken

I sense some astroturfing in the comments...

youngpro

+1!!!

marchug

how about the street i've lived on for 7 years - during the last 2 a hassidic building went up and now 5 school buses a day honk their horns over and over at 8:15am until the little hassidikids come out. they do the same in the afternoon until their mum's come out and collect them. assholes.

CaraL

Marty SUCKS! He offends everyone, including himself, by getting fatter (and seemingly shorter) every year. He is gross, greedy, and a fool. Brooklyn looks so much better without him.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

100% agree with your awesome comment.

napalm

Everyone involved in these concerts, including the concert goers are all *pro-nazi* and holocaust sympathizers. How dare anyone attempt to enjoy themselves anywhere near a synagogue, that's *anti-semite*!!

jpeditor

If your teeth are hurting it's because my size 11's are kicking you over and over in the mouth.

CR

Try and be less of an idiot, if possible. We're all pulling for you though, we know you can do it.

potsmoker

actually marty mark should have said WHOOOOPS

lets reschedule or we cant legally hold the concert at that venue at that time.

these sound laws applies to everyone, cops also pull the plug on the million man march remember that, at the exact time the permit wa over pulled plug, and cops pull over cars with loud systems and give tickets, but prob not the mikvah tank, playing NWA is a sure way to get their attention.

MArty is a slimebag and this is just a tiny stripe of icing on his sh*t flavored cake.

inoyourider

Why can't the concerts be rescheduled outside of the hours of worship?

dadoc

And why cant't doing stuff to make an imaginary friend happy be rescheduled around the concerts? We ARE talking Neil Sedaka here!

inoyourider

Because it's the law and they were there first.

AND because its Neil Sedaka.

dadoc

Goose/Gander. Does the amplifiaction statute mean we can silence the annoying Mikvah tanks as they blast in front of my office (across from a church, just for the law?). Yeah, Marty is a liar and goniff of the first order, but Neil Sedaka? This ain't (insert rowdy grunge/rap band here) we're talikng about here.

CR

I believe you're confusing a "mikvah", which is a ritual-bath, with a "mitzvah" which is a commandment or good-deed.

dadoc

Yeah, whatever, they're annoying parked in front of the hydrant and blasting that infernal racket, worse than Mister Softee. Can't even hear a blood pressure over their loop tape. If they ever discover heavily-amped sub-woofers, I'm done for :)

potsmoker

"The show will go on! I never would have thought that in my lifetime a Jewish synagogue would try to take away joy and happiness from tens of thousands of Brooklynites out of spite."

thats a really disgusting statement, now change the law so that no house of worship could ever possiblly use this sad excuse.

i hate all religion but your really disgusting as a human being.

did people actually vite for you, or were you appointed by another douchebag!!!

potsmoker

sorry king marty, change the law or end the concerts,

the members of this synsagogue should use amplificatiuon devices outside YOUR TEMPLE during services,

oh wait you prob dont go to services, you worship lies and money, and steal expensive placemats for sale on ebay and claim to donate to charity...well marty, you THEIF, where is the proof you sold those 9 stolen murakami placements worth about $1000 each and donated them to charity????

LIAR, just like any other politician,