Cabaret Law to Result in Dramatic Courtroom Finale
According to Voice pixie Tricia Romano, NYU law prof Paul Chevigny and former NY Civil Liberties Union head Normal Siegal spent last Thursday being unquestionably awesome, having filed suit on behalf of a gaggle of plaintiffs regarding our city's highly retarded cabaret laws. Eager to bring the jitterbug room back to Applebee's, the two attorneys have served papers to the Department of Consumer Affairs; the Department of Buildings; the City Planning Commission, responsible for enforcing zoning restrictions; and the City of New York.
The suit charges that the law "arbitrarily interferes with the right of plaintiffs ... to engage in dancing ... at eating and drinking establishments, a right which is protected as expression under the New York State Constitution." (Emphasis added.) The suit also notes the dwindling number of legal dancing venues, down from 316 in 2002 to 212.
The decline is nothing short of dramatic, and we pray that these bold saviors of our constitutional rights can pave the way for a future full of free ass-shaking. Otherwise, we're going to have to make like Kevin Bacon and cross the Hudson just to get our groove on.
