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NEWSLETTER - Fall 2002IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!
The most pressing news of the day is that we are being targeted by the Environmental Protection Board. For those of you who do not know what this is, it is a city agency that responds to noise complaints and tickets begin at $1700.A small business can easily be put out of business with their astronomical fines. The tickets can double and triple at a second and third offense. Our first meeting with the EPB was in May when we had a jazz trio playing. Our doors were shut; our windows in the back blacked out and the backyard had no one in it. We have tried vigilantly to respect our neighbors. This was a Friday night at 10pm.Nothing was said by the EPB individual. He came into our space, took down our liquor license number and left. Two weeks later in the mail we received a ticket. We went to court over this ticket and found that he had written the ticket for a Sunday. He claims that he doesn’t work on Sundays. We thought that this ticket would have been thrown out on a technical error. The judge let us know that she would make a decision after reviewing all of the evidence and that we would receive her decision in the mail. A week later we received yet another ticket. Again, no warning was ever issued, no sound meter used. The Environmental Protection Board can simply say that they could hear us from the sidewalk. They do not need a sound meter to issue these tickets. We reside on one of the most successful blocks on Smith Street. Every business that evening had people laughing, drinking, eating and enjoying a summer night in the city. Surrounding us are several outdoor cafes. That particular summer evening 5 of the businesses on our block were ticketed. Yesterday, in our mail we found that the EPB re-issued the first ticket. The city will put us out of business if they so choose and it is clear that their method for gaining revenue is the harassment of the little guy. The city in no way shape or form is for small business and we need all of the help that we can get to stay afloat. If you know of anyone in media, civil rights or the press who could possibly help our performing arts studio/wine bar please contact me as soon as possible.
Thank You for all of your love and support,
Garrett McConnell
Owner
The East End Ensemble
273 Smith Street
Brooklyn, New York 11231
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