Governor David Paterson signed a bill, sponsored by Senator Daniel Squadron, into state law last Sunday, which will tighten the reins on nightlife operators who routinely break the law. He also vetoed another of Squadron’s bills, one that would have given needed assistance to a vulnerable population.
The bill will enable the State Liquor Authority to more strictly crack down on bar and club owners who are frequently unable to control disorderly conduct, violate noise laws and repeatedly require police assistance. The law will enable the S.L.A. to withdraw a liquor license after one problem spot has incurred six or more noise or disorder violations within a 60-day time period.
“If the police are getting called to an establishment week after week, you know there’s a problem, and the S.L.A has to have the power to deal with it,” said State Senator Daniel Squadron in a phone interview with Downtown Express. “This bill will give the local police and the S.L.A. the ability to distinguish problem spots.
“I don’t know anyone who would complain that if there are six legitimate police incidents in a couple of months, that the S.L.A. should not be able to take action,” he added.
Meanwhile, Paterson vetoed a bill that would prohibit landlords to evaluate tenants based on their source of income.
The law would also have assisted disabled New Yorkers and those on rental subsidies to have suitable housing conditions.
“Unfortunately, these individuals often face the extra burden of discrimination by landlords and realtors who reject their rental applications solely because they rely on public assistance programs,” such as Social Services Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income and Section 8 and Advantage housing vouchers, according to a statement issued by the senator and Assembly Member Jonathan Bing’s offices.
The law would have also guaranteed that federal laws that safeguard public housing are also enforceable on a state level.
“It was an important bill. It’s incredibly difficult for people with disabilities and housing subsidies to find housing,” said Squadron. “People with disabilities have significantly higher rates of homelessness. What this bill would do is address a problem we see again and again, which is a landlord refusing to rent to people based on their source of income.”
When asked about the next step, Squadron said, “We look forward to trying to address the concerns raised. Unfortunately Republicans in the state senate didn’t support it, so we think an override is unlikely. We’re already working with advocates and with the governor to address the concerns that were raised [in the bill].”
— Aline Reynolds
