Call to close night spot City councilwoman says community upset with club where man was shot, killed By Paul Nelson Published 9:36 p.m., Friday, November 2, 2012
SCHENECTADY — In the aftermath of a deadly shooting outside, City Councilwoman Marion Porterfield is calling for the closure of a popular after-hours problem nightspot that owes nearly $36,000 in back taxes and has been operating without a liquor license since 2003.
"It should be shut down because the community is not happy with what's going on," said Porterfield, days after George Lloyd, 24, was shot early Saturday morning outside what locals refer to as the Masons Club.
It has that name because of what appears to be an old affiliation with the international fraternal organization. The nondescript building at 548 Schenectady St. is registered to the Brothers of Saint Paul, Lodge 282 Inc., according to city officials. That organization had also been known St. Paul Masonic Lodge. It is unclear what, if any, connection it has to the Masons.
Some people also call it Club 548 because of its location and a sign on the door that reads "Club 548 private club, members only."
"They need to come up with a better way to run the facility," said Porterfield, who said she spoke with a friend who belongs to the Masons about the violence. He told her that though the Masons own the building, they have been renting it to outside groups.
It's unclear how long that arrangement has been in place, but police were summoned to the two-story building at the corner of Schenectady and Strong streets in the early morning hours of Oct. 27 to check on reports of gunshots.
Not long after, Lloyd, who was shot multiple times, turned up at Ellis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Lloyd had been shot outside the club before being transported to the hospital, said police spokesman Lt. Mark McCracken. Even before Lloyd's death, police had been responding to 911 calls for reports of shots fired, disorderly conduct, loud music and parking problems, McCracken said.
"It's an establishment that is known to police," he said.
Over the past few years, it has become a popular destination for young people on weekends after other night clubs and bars have closed.
A Schenectady woman, who years ago was an active member of Eastern Star, the women's affiliate of the Masons, and who worked as a bartender at the club, recalled that had it attracted older, more "mature" African-American patrons.
"It was a place where we could go and feel safe because of the crowd," said the woman, who requested anonymity because she is not authorized to discuss the group's business.
Back then, a bouncer guarded the door and checked identification of members and guests, who could dance or shoot pool.
She said the club began to go downhill after the owner, a man she and other city officials identified as Donald Golston, died in 2004.
The woman said she began to fear for her safety a few years ago and once saw a young patron rolling a marijuana joint in a rear lounge.
She said another bartender, a school teacher by day, often saw some of her underage students in the club.
"I used to tell everyone that I feel like I'm getting whiplash because you turn your head around at every little noise because you know the type of crowd and what they are capable of," she said, noting that she hasn't been in the club since 2010.
Bill Crowley, a spokesman with the State Liquor Authority Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, said Tuesday that the Brothers of Saint Paul, Lodge 282, liquor license for the club had expired in March 2003.
As of Thursday, the lodge, which does not have tax-exempt status, was $35,711 in arrears. It has had several tax liens on the building since 2007, according to the city's tax department and assessor........................>>>>.........................>>>>..................Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Call-to-close-night-spot-4004802.php#ixzz2BA2EW3J3
and it's allowed to be operated......under age drinking and sale of drugs is illegal...is it not????......yet, it is still open......we arrest people for less.......\\\
and it's allowed to be operated......under age drinking and sale of drugs is illegal...is it not????......yet, it is still open......we arrest people for less.......\\\
CLOSE IT DOWN....
Wait. Something doesn't add up here.
It doesn't have the required liquor license from the state, but neither the state dems nor the city dems nor the county dems, nor even former dem councilman Joe Allen have closed it down?
It has been a troublespot for a long timne but the city dems nor the county dems, nor even former dem councilman Joe Allen have closed it down?
It has back taxes that date back to the Mayor of BS and his BS idea of using ATF and it still is in the same hands as before it became delinquent in taxes
It is STILL delinquent in taxes, it has not been sold. Gee, I thought the cheerleader for the dems said the city is improving. Hmmm, then why has no one bought the building?
The city and county dems HAVE ALLOWED this to continue because they TOTALLY IGNORE the neighborhoods. The ONLY thing they think about is their precious downtown and the money they get from their rich political crony property owners downtown. The city & county dems do NOT give a rat's a** about the neighborhoods in the city, nor the residents, nor the homeowners and THIS IS JUST MORE EVIDENCE OF THAT FACT. And NO ONE will dare post here and provide even one teeny weeny shred of proof to contradict that fact
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
As of Thursday, the lodge, which does not have tax-exempt status, was $35,711 in arrears. It has had several tax liens on the building since 2007, according to the city's tax department and assessor
WOW!!! $35,711 in arrears.....several tax liens since 2007........and yet they are foreclosing on personal properties!!!
It appears here folks that because this property is on Schenectady St....they ain't gonna do squat!! If it were located on the 'miracle block' of state street.......it would have been long gone 5 years ago!!!
It all has to do with LOCATION!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
If they do anything there will be an outcry from democraps that they are harassing minorities
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
WOW!!! $35,711 in arrears.....several tax liens since 2007........and yet they are foreclosing on personal properties!!!
That's outragous. Here my sweet neighbor was in arrears 1/3 of what they are and his house was taken. The night of the shooting three teenage girls walked by my house, they were aware of the shooting by their comment. Seems like they were in the club. What are teenage girls doing in a club at 4am!!!!!!!!!
And why is MP all of a sudden concerned about a club that has been there for so many years and known to have all these issues, oh almost forget election day is in a few days
Three days before Election Day Marion finds an issue! She knows she is totally unqualified and had done nothing but feather her own nest for Ham Hill. The DEM machine is scraping the bottom of the barrel with her and their joke Assembly/ State Senate candidates.
Ya can't smoke at the Elks.........is that just their private no smoking law? We were told that they there was no smoking there due to the mandated law....no?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Ya can't smoke at the Elks.........is that just their private no smoking law? We were told that they there was no smoking there due to the mandated law....no?
NYS smoking exceptions:
§ 1399-q. Smoking restrictions inapplicable.
This article shall not apply to:
1. Private homes, private residences and private automobiles;
2. A hotel or motel room rented to one or more guests;
3. Retail tobacco businesses;
4. Membership associations; provided, however, that smoking shall only be allowed in membership associations in which all of the duties with respect to the operation of such association, including, but not limited to, the preparation of food and beverages, the service of food and beverages, reception and secretarial work, and the security services of the membership association are performed by members of such membership association who do not receive compensation of any kind from the membership association or any other entity for the performance of such duties;
5. Cigar bars.
6. Outdoor dining areas of food service establishments with no roof or other ceiling enclosure; provided, however, that smoking may be permitted in a contiguous area designated for smoking so long as such area: 1. constitutes no more than twenty-five percent of the outdoor seating capacity of such food service establishment, 2. is at least three feet away from the outdoor area of such food service establishment not designated for smoking, and 3. is clearly designated with written signage as a smoking area
7. Enclosed rooms in food service establishments, bars, catering halls, convention halls, hotel and motel conference rooms, and other such similar facilities during the time such enclosed areas or rooms are being used exclusively for functions where the public is invited for the primary purpose of promoting and sampling tobacco products, and the service of food and drink is incidental to such purpose, provided that the sponsor or organizer gives notice in any promotional material or advertisements that smoking will not be restricted, and prominently posts notice at the entrance of the facility and has provided notice of such function to the appropriate enforcement officer, as defined in subdivision one of section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-t of this article, at least two weeks prior to such function. The enforcement officer shall keep a record of all tobacco sampling events, and such record shall be made available for public inspection. No such facility shall permit smoking under this subdivision for more than two days in any calendar year.
Logged
Three days before Election Day Marion finds an issue! She knows she is totally unqualified and had done nothing but feather her own nest for Ham Hill.
