Shooting Outside Mazi Nightclub Leads to Immediate License Suspension
Albany, NY – The New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) summarily suspended the license of Mazi Nightclub Inc., at 130-35 91st Street in Richmond Hill. The suspension was ordered by Chairman Vincent Bradley, Commissioner Lily Fan, and Commissioner Greeley Ford at a special meeting of the Full Board on September 12, 2019. Effective immediately, no alcohol may be sold or consumed on the premises. During the suspension period the SLA intends to seek the permanent cancellation or revocation of the license.
On September 2, 2019, New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers responding to a call for shots fired discovered three victims had been shot following a dispute that began outside the nightclub. One of the victims was fatally shot, a second was in critical condition at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center with a gunshot wounds to the chest, and a third, shot in in both legs, was in stable condition at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
NYPD officers reviewing video surveillance from the night of the shooting discovered that earlier that evening, in an unrelated incident, a patron inside the Mazi Nightclub was beaten inside the premises and struck in the head with a bottle. The victim, who received medical treatment at Jamaica Hospital, reported bouncers from the club simply ushered him out the door following the assault. The NYPD reported no one from the club called 911 following either of these serious incidents.
On September 5, 2019, the SLA and the NYPD conducted a follow up inspection, with the SLA citing the bar with thirty violations, including operating a disorderly premise, employing unlicensed security, possession of untaxed cigarettes, failure to maintain books and records, numerous code violations, and for becoming a focal point for police attention.
The September 2nd shooting is just the latest in a series of disorders emanating from the Mazi Nightclub. The SLA currently has a revocation proceeding pending against the club for charges including operating a disorderly premises and failure to supervise. The nightclub was fined $15,000 on October 15, 2018 for charges involving an assault and operating a disorderly premises.
“The SLA has zero tolerance for bars where violence is a routine occurrence, threatening the safety of their neighborhoods and straining police resources,” said SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley. “This emergency suspension should serve as a message that this agency will not hesitate to take immediate action when a bar poses a threat to public health and safety.”
The State Administrative Procedure Act authorizes a State agency to summarily suspend a license when the agency finds that public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency action. When the SLA summarily suspends a license, it also serves a Notice of Pleading alleging one or more disciplinary violations. In invoking a summary suspension, the SLA has deemed the violation to be sufficiently serious upon initial review to warrant an immediate suspension. The SLA’s decision to summarily suspend a license is not a final determination on the merits of the case. The licensee is entitled to an expedited administrative law hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. An order of summary suspension remains in effect until such time as it is modified by the SLA or a reviewing Court.
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