A strip club in Long Island City that has been the scene of gang-related shootings and has caused nearby residents to complain of quality-of-life issues should be shut down, according to a local lawmaker.
State Senator Michael Gianaris sent a letter to the State Liquor Authority (SLA) on March 10 asking the agency to deny the club’s cabaret license. Located at 31-10 37th Ave., the nightclub failed to comply with its license in 2016, the senator said.
It was also temporarily shut down in May 2016 after a gang-related shooting took place there. According to Captain Peter Fortune, commanding officer of the 114th Precinct, a man was shot in the foot outside of the club on May 14 at about 3:20 a.m. Soon after, the club was shut down after receiving dozens of summonses and not complying with its cabaret or liquor license.
Neighbors who live in the area attended a Community Board 1 meeting in May to urge board members to help get the club shut down.
James Woods, who lives on 32nd Street between 37th and 38th avenues, said that four to six squad cars are parked at every intersection surrounding the club from 2 to 4 a.m. every night. He said patrons stop in front of his building to urinate or vomit on the sidewalk before going into their cars to “do drugs or have sex.”
“I strongly suggest y’all do something and fix it because I’m sick of living in a pool of urine surrounded by used condoms and discarded woman’s undergarments all over my sidewalk,” Woods said at the meeting.
According to Gianaris, 252 “911” calls were placed in 2016 to report issues and criminal activity occurring at the club. ACES also failed to display its license and employed unlicensed security guards among other violations, he wrote in the letter.
“Aces is notorious for its ongoing troubling activity,” Gianaris said. “Residents deserve to live in a community where they feel safe, with a robust quality of life. It’s time we get rid of this bad adult establishment once and for all and apply our resources towards protecting our schools, small businesses and families.”
There are at least three other night clubs within the vicinity of Aces New York including Club Purlieu, Palladium Club and Club Mist. Club Purlieu was also the scene of several violent incidents and was shut down. According to Fortune, the 114th Precinct has nine gentlemen’s clubs within its confines.
