PUBLIC SPACE FOR ALL

ACT NOW TO STOP THREATS TO PRIVACY, IDENTITY AND SAFETY IN NYC

This is a bare bones renewal of the public space for all website. For now we are just putting up the essential information to help you stay informed about new legislation before the New York City Council that would impose new laws on cabarets and public dance halls (nightclubs and other venues that allow dancing). The older information on access to and use of public spaces (parks, beaches, libraries) and threats to freedoms of assembly and speech has been taken down. A new website with updated information and features will be up by November 20th.

Contact City Council and Request a Three Month Delay on Nightlife Safety Proposals

The quickest way to have an impact is to contact one or both of these representatives:

City Council Speaker: Christine C. Quinn District Office
224 West 30th St (Suite 1206)
New York, New York, 10001
Phone: (212) 564-7757
Fax: (212)564-7347
Email: quinn@council.nyc.ny.us

Chair of Consumer Affairs: Leroy G. Comrie, Jr.
Legislative Office Address:
250 Broadway, 18th Floor
NY, NY 10007
Legislative Office Phone No.: (212) 788-7084
Legislative Office Fax No.: (212) 788-7093
Email: comrie@council.nyc.ny.us

On October 18th a joint comittee hearing of the Public Safety and Consumer Affairs comittees of the New York City Council was held to review proposed legislation reagarding "nightlife safety". There are two sections that if passed would create serious threats to privacy and secure personal identity. These are:

• Int 0441-2006 See Int 0441-2006 See Details of Int 0441-2006 Email Sponsors of Int 0441-2006
  Requiring certain cabarets and dance halls to be equipped with identification scanners.
  Description: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring certain cabarets and dance halls to be equipped with identification scanners.
• Int 0442-2006 See Int 0442-2006 See Details of Int 0442-2006 Email Sponsors of Int 0442-2006
  Relation to requiring certain cabarets and public dance halls to install video surveillance cameras at all entrances and exits.
  Description: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring certain cabarets and public dance halls to install video surveillance cameras at all entrances and exits.
  

Several council members present at the hearing raised serious concerns and objections to these proposals.

Public testimony from the NYCLU, and citizen activists raised serious concerns and objections to these proposals.

It is reasonable to insist that committee review these two sections for the next three months so that citizens can have adequate time to make their views known to the city council.

You may find out how to contact your local council representative at http://www.nyccouncil.info/constituent/member_list.cfm.