For almost a year Community Board 12, elected officials and local residents waged a fight against plans to reopen a bar at 756 McDonald Avenue.

There used to be a bar named Coronitas at that location. This bar was fraught with a high volume of complaints, police responses and quality of life issues which were getting worse and worse. Additionally, there were numerous Fire Department and Building Department violations. Due to all of the above, in January of 2014, the SLA (State Liquor Authority) revoked the liquor license for this establishment.

In April, an application for a liquor license was filed again, presumably by a new owner and under a different name, Ditmas Beer Palace. The applicant claimed that he didn’t know, and had no connection to the previous owner. However, the neighbors were convinced that the previous owner was still behind the new application and the new owner was only acting as a front man. The residents reached out to Community Board 12 and to local elected officials and asked for help in fighting the application. After careful review, Community Board 12 found the claims of the residents to be credible and based on the terrible history of this establishment and after consultation with the Police and Fire Departments, they wrote a strong letter to the SLA urging them to deny the application. CB12’s letter was followed by letters from Councilman David Greenfield, Councilman Brad Lander, Assemblyman Dov Hikind, Assemblyman James Brennan and Borough President Eric Adams.

In June, the application came before the SLA for a hearing. At the hearing, residents testified against the application and relayed horrific stories about all the quality of life concerns and sometimes criminal activity that was going on there when the bar used to be open. The SLA was sympathetic but not entirely convinced that the new ownership was connected to the old one. Therefore, they denied the application with a stipulation that the applicant go back to the Community Board, meet with them and show them their plans of operation and how they will operate differently than the previous owner. Once they did that – they were told – they can file a new application and come back to the SLA for approval.

In August, the applicant once again sent the Community Board a notice of application but without a request for a meeting. In the months since, the applicant did not reach out to the Board in any way. Based on that, Community Board 12 once again sent a letter to the SLA stating that in light of the applicant disregarding their instructions to meet with them; it appears that the applicant is not interested in what the community has to say or try to work with them to rectify the issues of concern, so they asked that the application be denied again.

Last week Tuesday, December 30, the application came before the SLA for a hearing. District Manager of Community Board 12, Barry Spitzer along with 2nd Vice Chair, Rabbi Yeruchim Silber and Member of the Executive Committee, Mamnunul Haq stood beside numerous members of the community and testified against the application.

In a testament to the diverse community of Board 12, Ray Cazis, the Pastor of a local church, a representative of the Bangladeshi mosque and representatives of local synagogues and yeshivas, including Alesk, Zichron Melech, Yeshiva Derech Chaim and Jirka stood together in opposition along with residents who are Jewish, Muslim, African American, Latino, Asian and Indian.

When issuing their decision to deny the application, the SLA stated that their main reason was because of the failure of the applicant to reach out to Community Board 12.

“I am very happy about the SLA’s decision to deny this application and I thank them for taking the community’s concerns to heart. This is what we do here at the Community Board and I consider this a win for the entire community,” said District Manager Barry Spitzer. “I would also like to thank all the elected officials and Deputy Inspector Mike Deddo, Commanding Officer of the 66th Precinct, that stood beside me and supported us in our effort to oppose this application,” added Spitzer.

“This win shows that what is important to the community is important to us and we will always stand guard to protect the interests of our community. You cannot go against the entire community and get away with it,” said Chairman Yidel Perlstein.

“The community has spoken not once, not twice, but many times over against a bar operating at this location. I was happy to support the community by sending opposition letters to the liquor authority. My thanks to Barry Spitzer, Yidel Perlstein and Community Board 12 for leading, and to the SLA for hearing, the community’s concerns,” said Councilman David Greenfield.

“It is always a great moment when the concerns of the community are clearly heard, and we certainly saw that with this decision. Over many months, my office received numerous complaints about the business that had operated at 756 McDonald Avenue. Those complaints were supported by accounts from the local precinct, as well as violations issued by the FDNY and DOB. I am glad to have joined together with many in this neighborhood to voice our opposition to this application and enhance the quality of life of our community. I extend my gratitude to the leadership of Community Board 12 for championing this issue,” said Councilman Brad Lander.

“We’re happy that the New York State Liquor Authority did the right thing by denying this license. The residents of the community can rest easier and feel more secure following this decision,” said Assemblyman Dov Hikind.

(YWN Desk – NYC)