As I just mentioned on facebook, after an hour or so of community board 3 subcommittee on liquor licensing, I am astounded that anyone ever bothers and manages to open bars and restaurants in new York City, let alone the sheer number that we see. The forces of not in my backyard negativity are astounding. As this issue has emerged concerning our immediate neighborhood, my husband and I have been commenting to each other that we moved to the Lower East Side from the suburbs of Jersey because we wanted the vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood we could only find in Manhattan. We thought it was obvious that all Manhattanites thought like us, but I am seeing just how wrong that assumption is. For example, I am now watching a request for a tiny Japanese restaurant on an East Village side street. Some of the commentators opposes to the license are remarking that there are so many Japanese restaurants in the area, we don't need another. To me, this point is more a threat that this business won't survive than a reason to discourage it in the first place. Why not let the market decide if, in fact, we need another Japanese restaurant? I am embarrassed to note that another concern voiced was that the owner, a Japanese woman, does not speak English very well so who can these people complain to? Is that not flat out nativist? What happened to the American dream, and the beautiful diversity of New York City?
As for the bar application that brought me here in the first place, my neighbors complained that we are a residential neighborhood and should stay that way; they complain that opening a bar will guarantee drunks and criminals; that the noise will disturb them; that it should be denied simply because it is a block away from schools and churches. This is New York City! I had no idea this went on here. The fact is that in our particular few-block radius, there are very few bars and restaurants. This fact is what drives many of the supporters who want more neighborhood nightlife spots. But even more so, this fact makes me impressed that these particular proprietors are willing to take the risk of opening a new business in a neighborhood that does not have a bar-going reputation. I have heard that 1 out of every 3 new restaurants in NYC fails within a year. Given this, I am amazed at the uphill battle people go through to even bother trying.
But the fact is, if you look around the city, it appears that somehow this mix of business and democracy works. People are able to have their say, perhaps even to encourage and persuade business owners to make certain concessions in the way they operate - schedule, offerings, noise control - and businesses are able to open and, with any luck, thrive. I'm just observing for now, but with an eye toward getting more involved in the community governance and institutions soon.
My questions: Just how, and how well, does this balance of democracy and business work? How much of these community reactions are simple inertia and fear of change and how much is legitimate concerns about changes that should not be permitted or concessions that should be made before a business can open? Do these community boards ultimately have any power over the licensing authority? How much influence do they have? If I were to get involved, what would be the purpose really, in terms of what I might hope to accomplish for the community (and for myself of course)?
