Shhhh... New Millman Bill Would Force Outdoor Bars To Turn It Down

A new bill hopes to put the kibosh on noisy late nights at outdoor bar spaces throughout the city, but local residents and business owners say the bill will cramp their late-night style.

The bill, proposed by , will set standardized guidelines for all bars and restaurants with rear yard and rooftop seating.

The bill would require outdoor spaces to close by 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and by midnight on Friday and Saturday, unless extended hours are approved by the community board. Wait service would also be required.

The bill would also continue to enforce laws that prohibit amplified music in outdoor spaces and require wait service in all ourdoor areas to prevent crowds from getting too rowdy.

Paul Nelson, Millman's Chief of Staff, presented the bill to the Permits and Licenses Committee at a Community Board Meeting Monday night, urging the committee and other community members to talk to their legislators on behalf of the bill. Attendants of the meeting expressed full support, and the committee officially endorsed the bill. 

Several residents who live in the area, however, do not support the bill.

"It's more important to be good neighbors than to be regulated by some agency," said Carroll Gardens resident Tomas Hunt, who was out on a recent day with his daughter.

"The problem is the blaring, amplified music," said Karen Mruk, another Carroll Gardens resident. "But I think that's too early." She admitted that she may feel differently if she lived near an outdoor bar.

Even Len Kleinmen, a resident who once lived next door to a rear yard bar in the West Village, opposed the idea.

"If you're gonna do it, I think the weekdays are okay, but the weekends should be later," Kleinmen said. "The alternative would be having the restaurant provide earplugs," he joked.  

Charmain Gumbs, owner of on Flatbush Avenue, also believes that the weekend hours are too early.

"Maybe it needs to be amended a little bit, just to accommodate the business person," she said. "I understand that we have to accommodate the neighbors that we're affecting, but it is a service to the community as well to have a nice outdoor garden you can dine in when the weather permits."

The bill establishes strict guidelines for all bars and restaurants to follow, and supporters of the bill say that this will have a positive impact on both businesses and residents. When residents call in noise complaints, the noise is often gone by the time police arrive, and restaurants and bars constantly have to deal with complaining neighbors. 

Regina Cahill, president of the North Flatbush Avenue BID, says that the idea behind the bill is to eliminate these problems.

"It will create a consistent policy for all similar businesses so that the police enforcement and the neighbors all have a clear idea of exactly what to expect," she said.

Cahill lives two doors down from on Flatbush Avenue, and has had to speak with them about noise on several occasions.

"They've been cooperative," she said. "But if somebody doesn't want to be that involved in a face-to-face confrontation, than this allows police to enforce a standard that is comfortable for everybody."

Rubin Alban, owner of on Court Street, believes that standardized guidelines could eliminate competition between businesses as well. 

"It's not fair that some bars can stay open later than other bars, and some bars are noisier than other bars," he said. "As long as all bars are doing the same thing, than it's no problem." 

The proposed bill has a long way to go before going into effect, and Nelson admitted that it probably won't pass this year. Millman and her staff are currently focusing on gaining support from community members and local politicians.