Gus Drakopoulos has threatened that if Community Board 2 does not stop its efforts to block a liquor license for a strip club he hopes to open in Long Island City, it could result in his opening a seedier joint.
And Gus should know. He runs Sin City, a “gentleman’s club” in Mott Haven, Bronx. Gus said if he does not get the license, he could open a club where women dance nude. Apparently if a club has a liquor license, women can only be almost nude. Even worse, if the club does not sell liquor, the minimum age drops from 21 to 18.
We hope CB 2 residents stand their ground. They ought not to be intimidated by a guy who wants to bring nude dancers to Long Island City. If Gus wants to charge men to ogle nude women, tell him to do it in the Bronx.
Gus defended Sin City. The club cleans up the sidewalk around its location and donates goods and toys to the needy for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, he said.
We note John Gotti also handed out turkeys in his Queens neighborhood.
We question how Gus qualifies for a liquor license. Federal documents show he was indicted by the federal Securities and Exchange Commission on insider trading charges in 2002. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud in 2006. A felony should disqualify him unless he has obtained a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities.
We do not want or need a felon opening a strip joint in Long Island City — even if the girls wear G-strings — and we do not like him threatening the community board.
No More Runoff Elections
The citywide primary run-off elections are a waste of taxpayer dollars. The two front-runner candidates in the Sept. 15 primary were required to participate in a runoff after no candidate received 40 percent of the vote. The public was asked to return to the polls Sept. 29.
Most did not.
In many city districts, poll workers sat from 6 a.m. till 9 p.m. and no one turned up. In hundreds of other districts with more than 1,000 registered voters, fewer than 10 people showed up to nominate the Democratic candidate for comptroller and public advocate.
The run-off election was costly and less than meaningless.
