Pols rip 2 a.m. bar close at Barclays

June 8, 2012 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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The State Liquor Authority is being asked to return Barclays Center’s liquor license application for further consideration by Community Boards 2 and 6, after it was disclosed that some venues in the arena intended to continue serving alcohol as late as 2 a.m.

While the fans in the stands will have their alcohol cut off at the beginning of the fourth quarter during NBA games, the party will continue until the wee hours for hundreds of restaurant goers, VIP club members and those watching events from more than 100 luxury suites

State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, Assemblywoman Joan Millman, Assemblyman James Brennan and Councilwoman Letitia James complained in a letter to the liquor authority on June 5 that Barclays representatives never informed the boards about this late night booze.

“We are acting to protect the rights of our community boards, to protect the interests of our local residents and businesses,” said Montgomery in a statement. She said the elected official did not object to serving liquor during athletic events, but did have a problem with clubs and restaurants in the arena serving alcohol until 2 a.m.

In the letter to authority, the reps said, “The applicant is proposing that potentially 5,400 patrons would be consuming alcohol until 2 a.m., and then exiting the arena in residential neighborhoods, a process that may take until 3 a.m. The Community Boards deserve to review these recently revealed proposals and craft stipulations in the best interest of their areas.”

Montgomery said on Friday that the community boards want the liquor application to be divided, “and that the license applications regarding premium seating areas, luxury suites, clubs, restaurants, and any other tiered service variances for all events be returned to Brooklyn Community Boards 2 and 6 for due consideration.”

The letter added that the fact that clubs and restaurants would be allowed to serve until 2 a.m. “was not communicated at any time while those CBs were developing their responses to the application and developing stipulations for operation.

“These serious omissions endanger the entire license application. They must be remedied.”

The State Liquor Authority did not return a call for comment.

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