No Café Permits for Cycling Scofflaws
As a longtime resident and community advocate, I applaud Community Board 7’s disapproval of a sidewalk café permit last month for a restaurant with a record of chronic delivery bicycle infractions. In a Feb. 9 committee meeting, the permit application had been approved by the committee under the condition that the restaurant begin complying with all bicycle codes immediately. A representative from the restaurant agreed to the condition at that time.
Nearly a month later, the restaurant was found to be non-compliant with bicycle codes, as promised. Among one of the more serious violations was delivery bicyclists continuing to ride on sidewalks. Read more
Private Café, Public Space
On the corner of West 81st Street and Amsterdam Avenue, the restaurant Monsoon has stood empty since 2005—and so has its enclosed sidewalk café. While passersby didn’t particularly notice the large structure jutting out into the sidewalk—it runs parallel to other outdoor cafés, though it remains the only permanent one—many residents have complained that the large, red painted construct, with its papered up windows and Department of Buildings stickers all over the door, is an eyesore. Read more
CAFÉ CLOSED
Elite Café, a casual restaurant at 185 Columbus Ave. between 68th and 69th streets, was recently shut down for non-payment of state sales taxes. The New York State Tax Department seized the restaurant, which had been operating since 1991, on May 26. According to department spokesperson Susan Burns, as of July 2, there were two open warrants for failure to pay state sales tax, amounting to $53,259.55, docketed in New York County Court. The first warrant was issued in late January 2007 and the second in mid-May of 2009 under Elite’s legal name, VK Food Shop Inc.
Elite did not fare as well as the famous H+H Bagels, which was also recently shuttered for tax issues. H+H’s flagship store, on Broadway at West 80th Street, was seized on May 29, but it reopened only three hours later after owners paid $25,466.06 in owed taxes. H+H’s business office and manufacturing outfit, both at 639 W. 46th St., were also shut down on May 29, but did not reopen until June 8.
The total number of state tax department seizures has increased steadily over the past three years: in 2006, 287 seizures were conducted. That number grew to 354 in 2007 and to 653 in 2008. Statistics for 2009 seizures are not yet available.
Though the weakened economy could be a factor, the department attributes this spike to its increased enforcement policy.
A CAFÉ CLOSING ON 79TH
“Wow, what luck,” I thought. “My assemblyman, Micah Kellner, witnessed my nearly being flattened by two early-teen sidewalk cyclists.” They came silently from behind as I stepped to the left to greet the assemblyman, who was looking for a cab on 81st and York. Now I’ve learned not to change lanes on the sidewalks or pedestrian park paths without looking behind to see if the coast is clear. Imagine! Thankfully, these teens were able to expertly swerve to keep from knocking me down. The boy saying “I’m sorry, ma’am” helped, and yet I could be in the hospital now. Read more
