One more note on last night’s CB3/SLA meeting. As we reported last night, the committee voted not to support the transfer of Sin Sin/Leopard Lounge’s liquor license to a new owner. About 20 residents showed up to oppose the application, saying “Sin Sin” has been a bad neighbor, refusing to deal with loud, rowdy crowds outside the East 5th Street club.
But their concerns went well beyond the usual complaints about late night noise and sidewalk congestion. Several people expanded on what East 5th Street resident Ariel Churi told us earlier in the week: violence and drug dealing are common occurrences outside the bar, on 2nd Avenue.
One woman, who’s lived in the neighborhood since 1977, said there are heroin and cocaine deals being made outside her window. “People are using this corner to traffic drugs,” she said. Stuart Zamsky, East 5th Street Block Association president, added, “People are scared to raise their kids near Sin Sin… It’s a dark place.” Another woman said police don’t seem to know or care what’s going on outside the club.
The new owners promised to “change the clientele” at Sin Sin and to put a stop to drug dealing and violence. But committee members made it clear they did not believe the new team has the experience to bring a bad situation under control. There have been more than 70 311 complaints against Sin Sin in the past year.
