By Hector Flores
³We met residents this morning [Monday], and are addressing the concerns having to do with people going the wrong way on a one-way street,² said town Councilman Gary Hudes. ³We are also going to put up No Stopping signs on the north side of Eighth [Avenue] matching the south side of Eighth. This will force drivers to park in the two lots [in front of Jessica¹s] rather than on residential streets.²
Hudes had the traffic signs installed on Newbridge Road just five days after he met with local residents at an East Meadow Civic meeting April 5.
Janet, a 14-year resident who declined to give her last name, said that there have been complaints about Jessica¹s Lounge for many years. ³Music is played until 3 a.m. during the weekdays,² she said. ³And during the weekends there are fights, and cars parked on the street.²
Hudes said that the town has issued the lounge owners and building owners a number of violations, including:
n Construction without a permit for a shed on the property.
n Failure to properly display an occupancy poster.
n Illegal operation of a cabaret without the proper license.
n Scattered litter and rubbish on the property.
n Graffiti on the building.
n A fence along the property, separating the commercial property from the residential community, was in disrepair.
n Illegal use of outside storage.
n A portable sign without a permit.
³We are also in the process of setting up a meeting with the owner of the property to get some cooperation from him,² Hudes said. ³Hopefully he will be agreeable to making the necessary changes.²
Hudes said that in order for the building to be in compliance, the owner must first fix the fence between the property and residents. Hudes explained that the old fence was damaged by a fire and needs to be replaced. Second, the owner and renters must keep the area behind the strip of stores free of litter.
For the owners of Jessica¹s Lounge to be in compliance, Hudes said that they must obtain a cabaret license for live music. In addition, the sound of music ‹ and club patrons ‹ must not carry into residential areas.
Lt. Joseph Barbieri of the 1st Precinct said that the precinct would conduct bar checks at Jessica¹s, looking for underage drinking and disorderly conduct. ³These are two of the concerns we can enforce,² he said.
Jerry Teixeira, one of the owners of Jessica¹s, said that she would address residents¹ concerns. ³We have just become aware of these problems,² she said. ³We want to comply, and we will make sure that our back doors are locked and are soundproof. We are also asking our customers to be courteous to our neighbors. As long as we are respectful, we believe that there is plenty of room for everyone.²
Teixeira added that signs have been erected in front of the bar, reminding patrons to be courteous to their neighbors.
Bob Zafonte, president of the East Meadow Civic Association, which organized the community meeting, said, ³I want to thank Gary, [Town Supervisor Kate] Murray and the police department for working together to resolve these matters. We have gotten tremendous responce from the owners of Jessica¹s, and it¹s great to have had such fast action from our municipality.²
Comments about this story? Hflores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283
