To all, This is the liveliest discussion I have seen in HP since the city wanted to cover the reservoir. As noted in many emails, the state has a criteria for nuisance bars. If someone finds an establishment that sells liquor to be a nuisance n any way, it it their right to complain. I applaud anyone who does and do not want to suppress someone's right to complain. Likewise, opinions in the community may differ on if Terry Villa is a nuisance and that is OK. However, I encourage everyone who finds Terry Villa, Six and a Slice, Taj Mahal or La Foret to complain. The state will take the appropriate action and it is not for us to condemn someone for voicing their complaint. With this said, I find it troubling that race was brought into this discussion. This mother who finds Terry Villa to be a nuisance for selling alcohol to underage persons never said anything about race. Later, this became an issue. The HPCC has a community plan and part of that plan has revealed that HP is one of the most balanced communities in Pittsburgh for racial composition. It is then in our interest to support this diversity and embrace it. Accusations of racism on a mother angry at an establsihment for selling alcohol to her underage children is not condusive to this purpose. We at the HPCC welcome all members of the community to attend our meetings held the 3rd thursday of the month. We would like to introduce interested members to the community plan and to the projects in the neighborhood. And we would like volunteers to help in the community, i.e. development of Bryant Street, etc. I hope to see some or all of you at the next meeting to exchange ideas and interests about the community and the direction we are headed. Thank you, John Ciroli HPCC Board Member --- Howard Degenholtz <degen+@pitt.edu> wrote:
The last time I was on Bryant St. I noticed the for sale/under contract sign was still there on the front of Terry Villa. Does anyone on the list know the status of that sale, who the buyer is, and what their plans are for the business?
From the PLCB website definition of 'nuisance bar':
"If the licensee has by its conduct or record of violation, demonstrated a pattern of activities which is in conflict with the health and safety of the local community during its license term, the PLCB will refuse to renew that license."
While that is clearly open to some interpretation, there appears to be a process in place to aggregate and review complaints and make a decsision about whether the establishment poses a problem. Whether that process works well is a different story, however.
I'd like to broaden this discussion to the wider issue of renewal on Byrant St. The pace of change is almost undetectable. The brick wall put in around the parking lot of the market did not seem to prompt updates to the facades and has recently acquired grafiti. Debating whether Terry Villa is a nuisance begs the question of wether there is a place for anything other than bars and pizza shops on that street.
Howard Degenholtz
Harold Love wrote:
I think what a lot of people are failing to acknowledge is that one or even a handful of reports of underage liquor sales may not constitute "nuisance" for everyone. Nuisance is subjective. Some of us might hate litter or noise might be our nuisance. Certainly, underage liquor sales are a serious problem that should be reported, policed and prosecuted. I think it reckless to start fanning the flames to label any business a nuisance if we can't agree on clearly defined criteria. Is a place a nuisance after one underage sale? Or is it two? Do I hear three? We need to proceed with caution before we start hurting business people because they cater to "types" that some people don't like.
Harold
-----Original Message----- From: neighborhood-bounces@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us
Thomas Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 5:04 PM To: Kimberly Adams; marcie@mcgand.com; neighborhood@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us; John.McBurney@city.pittsburgh.pa.us Subject: Re: [Highland Park] Liquor license renewals for Highland Park
Selling alcohol to minors is in a totally different class from blocking joggers on their route. I do not see this as
[mailto:neighborhood-bounces@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us] On Behalf Of Clarke treading in shallow water
at all jean thomas
----- Original Message ----- From: "Kimberly Adams" <KAdams@sustainablepittsburgh.org> To: "Brackney, Rashall" <Rashall.Brackney@city.pittsburgh.pa.us>; "Marcie McGuire" <marcie@mcgand.com>; <neighborhood@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us> Cc: "McBurney, John" <John.McBurney@city.pittsburgh.pa.us> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 3:15 PM Subject: RE: [Highland Park] Liquor license renewals for Highland Park
C'mon folks we are treading in shallow water. First of all, since we
are
all judgmental, the word "nuisance" needs to have a criteria attached with it -- otherwise it is a recipe for profiling -- racial or otherwise.
For example, I could call Tazzo D'oro "the coffee bar" a nuisance --
due
to the sidewalk being blocked when I choose to jog my route. But I
won't
because I love having the option of stopping in and having a bold one.
I don't go into any of the bars around here -- or anywhere. I just
don't
want to see anyone's enterprise threatened because we have become a little full of ourselves.
Terra Villa has been in the area long before most of us -- at least
for
the 20 odd years that I've lived in the park. Probably longer than
most
us on this "very cool list.
Thank you.
Kimberly Adams, Communications Manager Sustainable Pittsburgh 425 Sixth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15219 p: (412) 258-6646 f: (412) 258-6645 kadams@sustainablepittsburgh.org www.sustainablepittsburgh.org Sustainable Pittsburgh is a public-policy advocacy group that links economic prosperity, ecological health and social equity.
Watch for Champions of Sustainability and other upcoming events.
-----Original Message----- From: neighborhood-bounces@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us
[mailto:neighborhood-bounces@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us] On Behalf Of
Brackney, Rashall Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 12:38 PM To: Marcie McGuire; neighborhood@highlandpark.pgh.pa.us Cc: McBurney, John Subject: RE: [Highland Park] Liquor license renewals for Highland Park
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