NYC Considers Banning Alcohol At Street Fairs July 25, 2000
News Summary
Outdoor street parties in New York City, N.Y., may no longer be serving alcohol under a proposal being considered by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, the New York Times reported July 21.The proposed ban would apply to all 400 open-air feasts and festivals, including the popular Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy and the Ninth Avenue Food Festival in Clinton. Under the proposal, violators would be ticketed under the city's open container law.
"This is under consideration," said Marilyn Mode, spokeswoman for the Police Department. She added the intent of the alcohol ban is to ensure the outdoor events provide "a peaceful and family-oriented atmosphere" for all who attend.
The proposed ban had taken many festival organizers by surprise. They were recently notified by the city that the prohibition on alcohol sales might be a condition of street activity permits, which are required for all legal fairs and festivals.
"This could have a devastating impact on our feast and on the vendors who participate in it," said Arnold N. Kriss, general counsel for Figlia di San Gennaro Inc., the nonprofit group that is organizing the September street fair. "The Police Department is competent and capable and does an excellent job, and they should be able to police these feasts without these kinds of measures. Prohibition does not belong in New York City. Prohibition ended in 1932."
City officials said the plan is an extension of Giuliani's quality-of-life campaign. But authorities indicated that the proposed ban is in response to events following the National Puerto Rican Day Parade on June 11. After the parade, a mob of young men attacked at least 59 women in or near Central Park. A number of witnesses said many of the assailants had been drinking or smoking marijuana in the hours leading up to the sexual assaults. Alcohol was not sold at the parade.
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