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First ever 'Nightlife Summit' in the city?

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Ken Rosato
More: Bio, 7online.com News Team

(New York-WABC, Sept. 28, 2006) (WABC) -- This morning city officials will meet with club owners and police to figure out ways to make nightclubs and bars safer.

Eyewitness New reporter Ken Rosato has the story.

This comes as a result of some new bills introduced to the city this week. Getting past the velvet rope at New York City hot spots is about to get a lot tougher for minors.

City officials are on a club crackdown campaign that's taking aim at fake ID's, laid back bouncers and club owners that don't follow the rules.

Girl: "If it's helping women in keeping them safe, I think it's very important." The City Council introduced it's nightclub safety legislation in response to recent nights on the town that ended in tragedy.

Imette St. Guillen was allegedly raped and killed by a SoHo bouncer in January. Jennifer Moore was a high school student murdered after a night of under-aged drinking at a hot spot in the Chelsea.

Christine Quinn, NYC Council Speaker: "Not that nightlife gets closed down in the city of New York but that those bad apples get shutdown."

Under the new measures would require:

ID verification scanners and security cameras at all club entrances.

Employees would have to undergo safety training.

Nightclubs would be forced to hire independent monitors at their expense if laws are repeatedly broken.

Girl: "Every club should have one.

Boy: "Personally I think it's ridiculous. It's an invasion of privacy."

The City Council sponsored "Nightlife Summit" will occur later this morning starting at John J. College. It will be attended by the city councilmembers and other lawmakers, as well as the NYPD and members of the New York nightlife organizations.

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