By Angel Feliciano, New Correspondent
Citing increasing concerns over the protection of locals, overcrowding and noise complaints, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced the establishment of a Nightclub Enforcement Unit to crack down on disturbances at late-night entertainment venues around the city, according to a Dec. 19 press release. However, some Northeastern students and local vendors think the unit is redundant and unnecessary.
“Establishing a cohesive inspection unit will allow us to better enforce permitting and licensing requirements that will protect public safety and reduce excessive noise, overcrowding, and other quality of life issues,” Menino said in the release. “I want to ensure that Boston’s late night entertainment venues remain safe and fun places for our residents and visitors to enjoy.”
The unit, which will conduct both quarterly and random, unannounced inspections, will include a representative from the Boston Police Department (BPD), Boston Fire Department, Inspectional Services Department Building and Health units, the mayor’s office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing and the Boston Licensing Board. All popular late-night entertainment venues are subject to searches, not just those designated by statute as nightclubs.
Like many other Boston bars, Our House East, a popular bar among Northeastern students, is located near private residences and has had to deal with noise complaints. Jack Hague, manager of the bar, said employees have taken numerous precautions to avoid problems with those neighbors and the police.
“Any activity that is under 21 we stopped doing because BPD constantly checks on nightclubs and bars most of the time now,” he said. “BPD checks licenses and has asked plenty of bars to stop doing games like beer pong.”
According to the city press release, the unit was created in light of repetitive violations of state laws and the Rules of the Licensing Units, as observed by the permitting authorities, as well as safety and additional quality of life concerns. Changes in the industry, such as the increase of accordion windows, patios, smoking areas and roof decks have also contributed to an increase in complaints.
The unit was established a month after four men were shot outside a downtown nightclub.
Rebecca Finocchiaro, a senior international business major, said she doesn’t support these rules and policies the city is enforcing.
“Personally, I think that the Boston club scene is already strict enough. It makes me not want to go out anymore,” she said. “I mean, I’m over 21 and it’s just not fun anymore to have to wait for lines so long. What are the problems that they are still dealing with?”
Hague agreed with Finocchiaro, calling the unit “unnecessary and just redundant.”
While Our House East is located near private residences, Hague said noise inside the bar is not a problem because the venue has an insulated ceiling, which has been regularly checked as to not disturb neighbors.
Elena Megalou, a freshman communication studies major, said she thinks the unit is just overkill since Boston is already so strict and that it isn’t necessary for the unit to move forward.
“I think that bars here are safe. If Boston is concerned about having alcohol distributed to minors in bars and nightclubs, people are still going to find ways to consume them anyway,” she said, adding that the unit doesn’t make any sense because it will prevent people from going out.
Hague said he believes that ultimately it is the responsibility of the establishment’s owners and management to keep everything orderly. He stressed that living in a city is an act of choice for those neighbors who complain about the excessive noise at night.
“Keep in mind that it’s always going to be noisy,” he said. “We are living in a city after all. It’s part of it.”
