FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM APRIL 26, 2018 • THE QUEENS COURIER 23
Shooting spurs SLA to suspend R.H. club’s liquor permit
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
rpozarycki@qns.com / @robbpoz
Rose Lounge in Richmond Hill gained
a liquor license back on March 6, but it
didn’t take very long for the club to lose
it for having a thorny reputation in the
community.
On April 20, the State Liquor Authority
(SLA) suspended the club’s liquor license
indefi nitely; the emergency decision came
less than a week aft er a double shooting
outside the establishment located at 89-25
130th St. that left two patrons injured.
Since opening and receiving its liquor
license, the SLA said in an April 23
announcement, Rose Lounge quickly
became a hot spot for trouble that
required regular intervention from the
102nd Precinct.
“In less than two months in operation,
this licensee has already demonstrated
he is unwilling or incapable of running a
lawful establishment,” Counsel to the SLA
Christopher R. Riano said.
Just three days aft er getting its liquor
Photo by Mark Mellone
license, on March 9, the club hosted a
birthday party for a deceased gang member
MTA bus reform plan may mean changed routes & fare collection
BY MADELINE NELSON
editorial@qns.com / @QNS
Th e MTA New York City Transit
unveiled an inclusive plan at the NYC
Transit Committee meeting on April 23
reimagining New York’s entire public
bus system.
It’s the result of an expansive review of
the system that NYC Transit President
Andy Byford commissioned. Byford
declared improving bus service as one of
his top four priorities on his fi rst day in
offi ce in January.
“We’ve listened to our riders’ concerns
and are working tirelessly to create a
world-class bus system that New Yorkers
deserve,” Byford said. “We’re targeting
challenges like traffi c congestion and
enforcement, undertaking bold initiatives
like redesigning the entire route network,
and pursuing advancements such as the
latest computer-aided management, double
decker and electric buses, all-door
boarding, and improved customer service
with more real-time data.”
As described, the NYC Transit Bus
Plan details a completely redesigned bus
route network. NYC Transit is preparing
to redesign the route network based on
public input and opinion, demographic
changes and travel demand statistics.
MTA indicated that it will work with the
city’s Department of Transportation, the
NYPD and local communities to expand
arrival time displays at bus stops and bus
priority technology, add and enforce bus
lanes, and more. MTA also plans to advocate
for more serious enforcement of the
bus lanes by the NYPD.
Another element of the plan is off -
board fare payment, allowing customers
to board the buses through both doors
rather than waiting at the front door to
board and pay. Th is new method, similar
to a system already in use along Select
Bus Service routes, will be tested aft er the
MTA rolls out electronic tap-to-pay readers
starting in 2019.
Th e proposals includes examples of
planned technological advancements
such as digital information screens providing
bus route, next stop and real-time
service advisories. Seat availability listings
on express buses will also be available
through an app.
NYC Transit also plans to develop simpler
and more dynamic, customizable
and location-specifi c bus route maps and
work alongside NYCDOT to add realtime
bus arrival info displays to bus shelters.
MTA also mentions the opening of a
brand-new Bus Command Center and
upgrading to the latest dispatch and
operations support technology, including
GPS-based displays of bus locations
to help bus operators and dispatchers
work together to eliminate multiple buses
arriving at a stop at once.
Lastly, the bus plan highlights the transition
to all-electric buses as well as the
city’s fi rst double-decker public buses. A
pilot test of 10 electric buses began earlier
this year, while a double-decker express
bus will be tested on a Staten Island route
starting this spring.
MTA plans on upgrading existing buses
with digital displays to show real-time
route, stop and service update information,
as well as traffi c signal priority and
new fare payment technology.
Byford and Irick will discuss the bus
plan at NYC Transit’s next #AskNYCT
Twitter chat, Th ursday, April 26, from
noon to 1 p.m. on the @NYCTBus handle.
File photo/THE COURIER
— ignoring police warnings that such
gatherings at other venues led to disorderly
conduct and arrests.
Cops wound up responding to a fi ght
there on March 25 that required additional
units to bring under control. Two
weeks later, the SLA reported, cops came
to the location on April 8 and found it
crowded with more than 1,000 patrons —
well above the maximum capacity of 347,
creating a fi re hazard.
In yet another incident, on April 14,
police had to break up a fi ght between
the Rose Lounge valet staff and an angry
patron, the SLA noted.
Th en, early on the morning of April 15,
two men were shot near the lounge following
an apparent dispute that began on
the dance fl oor. Law enforcement sources
said that Demetrius Williams, 27, of
Central Islip was seen on club security
video pulling out a gun and confronting
a 27-year-old man before both individuals
exited the lounge.
Moments later, Williams allegedly shot
the 27-year-old man in the head, critically
wounding him. He allegedly also
opened fi re on a second individual, striking
him in the leg, hip and left hand. Both
victims wound up being hospitalized for
their injuries, and Williams was arrested
later that day.
The SLA and the NYPD Vice
Enforcement Unit
then brought the hammer
down on the Rose
Lounge during an
enforcement operation.
On April 17, the NYPD
issued nine criminal
court summonses for
violations including
employing unregistered
and untrained security
guards, existing electrical
hazards and having
numerous fi re safety
violations.
Three days later,
on April 20, the SLA
issued 16 violations to
the lounge’s management,
including operating
a disorderly premises,
inadequate supervision,
sales to intoxicated
patrons, unlicensed
bouncers and becoming
a focal point for police
attention.
As with similar emergency
suspensions, the licensee is entitled
to an expedited hearing before an
administrative law judge. Th e suspension
remains in eff ect until the SLA or a
reviewing court may modify the order.
It’s the second time in as many months
that the SLA suspended a Richmond Hill
club’s liquor licenses on an emergency
basis. Last month, Zen Lounge lost its
liquor license more than two weeks aft er
three men were shot outside the premises.
Police outside the Rose Lounge on April 15.
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