Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Brooklyn Judge Orders City To Comply With Law Re: Amplified Sound In Asser Levy Park

Asser Levy/Seaside Park Seaside Summer Concert Series.   A Brooklyn Supreme Court judge today issued a  preliminary injunction requiring the City and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz to comply with the 500 foot rule regarding amplified sound.  A lawsuit filed on June 17, charging that Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz's Seaside Summer Concert Series violates a city law which prohibits amplified sound within 500 feet of  of “a school, courthouse or church, during the hours of school,  court or worship."  Sea Breeze Jewish Center and Congregation Temple Beth Abraham are approximatly 300 feet away.  Plaintiffs charge the concerts have been illegally held in Asser Levy/Seaside Park since its inception in 1991. (File Photo, July 16, 2009 © By Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates)  

Press Release

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

June 30, 2010 

Media Contact:
 
Geoffrey Croft
NYC Park Advocates
(212) 987-0565
(646) 584-8250 Cell


Brooklyn Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction Requiring City to 
Comply with Law Re: Amplified Sound In Asser Levy Park

(June 30, 2010 - Brooklyn)  Today the Honorable Kenneth P. Sherman of Brooklyn Supreme Court issued a preliminary injunction requiring the City and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz to comply with the 500 foot rule regarding amplified sound.  

The court order states: "It is herby ordered that the preliminary injunction is granted to the extent that defendants are required to comply with the provision of Title 10, Chapter 1, Section 108 (g) of the New York City Administrative Code until such provisions are amended and become effective as a matter of law." 

Last night the City Council passed a bill which would exclude Asser Levy/Seaside Park from the law. The bill to change the law was hastily introduced by Queens Council Member Peter Vallone last week at the request of Mayor Bloomberg. At todays court hearing a representative from the City stated the Mayor was expected to sign the bill on July 12, 2010.  The first Seaside Summer Concert is scheduled for July 15.   

The fast-tracked bill comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed on June 17 to enforce a long-time law prohibiting amplified sound within 500 feet of houses of worship, schools, hospitals, and courthouses. The amendment is a clear end-run around the existing law. 

Background:

A lawsuit was filed on June 17, in Brooklyn Supreme Court seeking to prevent the City of New York and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz from violating the NYC Law.  Mr. Markowitz sponsors an annual concert series in Asser Levy/Seaside Park, in Brighton Beach Brooklyn. 

Currently the law forbids amplified concerts within 500 feet of a house of worship, schools, hospitals, and courthouses.  But Mayor Bloomberg and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz want to build a $64 million, eight thousand seat amphitheater in Asser Levy/Seaside Park, right across the street from Sea Breeze Jewish Center and Temple Beth Abraham.  In violation of the law, these concerts have coincided with the hours of worship of Plaintiff Congregation Sea Breeze Jewish Center and with the hours of worship of Plaintiff Congregation Temple Beth Abraham. The two synagogues are approx. 300 feet away.

The suit is brought against defendants the City of New York and Brooklyn Borough President, Martin Markowitz, with regard to the violation of Title 10, Chapter 1, Section 10-108 (g) of the New York City Administrative  Code, and Title 38, Chapter 8, Section 8-06 of the Rules and Regulations of the City of New  York (together, the “Code”), which prohibit the use of electronic sound amplification equipment  at any location within 500 feet of  houses of worship during hours of worship.  Plaintiffs are directly and adversely affected by the Defendants’ annual operation of the Parks Department band shell in Asser Levy Park, which comes within 500 feet of Plaintiffs’ houses of worship, as a concert and event venue using electronic  sound amplification equipment.

Electronic sound amplification equipment is used during the concerts in addition to sound-checks and rehearsals. 

Read More: 

New York Times - June 30, 2010 - By Karem Fahim

NY1 News - June 30, 2010 

New York Post -  Brooklyn Blog - June 30, 2010 - By Rich Calder

New York Daily News - June 30, 2010 - By Erin Durkin

A Walk In The Park - June 25, 2010

A Walk In The Park - June 24, 2010

A Walk In The Park - June 17, 2010

2 comments:

  1. Again BP Marty Markowitz has shown his disdain for the Law.
    He has operated the Summer Concerts without getting a Sound Permit for over 20 years. If he had sign the Sound Permit Application he would have perjured himself.
    This is nothing new for Marty Markowitz . He was convicted back in the 1980's for violating NYC Campiagn Finance laws & he pleaded down to a Misdemeanor thanks to Brooklyn DA Elizabeth Holtzman.
    Marty is a serial violator of the Law. The Law only applies to the small people.

    ReplyDelete
  2. and he is not "small".

    ReplyDelete