Footloose at Last

Our City Council, after many years of lobbying from those who have created New York City’s famous nightlife scene, has voted to repeal the Cabaret Law. This antiquated statute had long since ceased to be relevant.

The bill passed by the City Council will require nightspots to ensure that any bouncers or security guards they employ are licensed, and to have security cameras installed.

The cabaret law, prohibiting dancing without a cabaret license–which fewer than 100 bars and restaurants in the city have—dated from 1926 and, according to the  Daily News, was passed in order to penalize Harlem jazz clubs and speakeasies where black and white patrons freely mixed.

Congratulations to the City Council for finally taking action.

Tango, photo credit Wikimedia Commons

Clare Doyle

Clare Doyle is a graduate of the M.A. program in Museum Studies at the University of Leicester, UK. She also holds a Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies as well as a B.A. in Archaeology and History from University Dublin, Ireland. She has worked for 30 years in library reference publishing in New York. Clare is the Vice President of Green Shores NYC, a non-profit group that advocates for a cleaner, greener and more connected waterfront in Astoria and Long Island City