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TESTIMONY

Greg Miller, Dancer on the Adverse Impact of the Cabaret Law on Marginalized Communities and the Need for its Reevaluation

5:10:44

·

165 sec

Greg Miller advocates for reevaluating the Cabaret Law, emphasizing its detrimental effects on marginalized communities.

Miller highlights how the 1926 Cabaret Law has suppressed cultural expression and limited opportunities for African, Asian, Latinx, LGBTQ, and immigrant communities to connect through dance.
He initiated the New York City Dance Parade in 2007 as a form of protest against the law's adverse impact.
Miller urges recognizing dance as a First Amendment right and warns against perpetuating systemic racism through restrictive legislation.
He acknowledges efforts by Mayor Adams and the City Planning Commission to address issues surrounding legal restrictions on dancing.
Miller calls for finding a balance in legislation while doing the right thing for the city's diverse communities.

Greg Miller

5:10:44

Thank you, Chair Riley and members of the city council.

5:10:48

This is a very important day for me personally.

5:10:52

I'm a dancer, a dance advocate, and basically my whole life is about dancing.

5:11:00

Dance might not mean a lot to people because they might have to be drunk at a wedding.

5:11:05

But It does mean a lot to thousands of dancers throughout the city, African, Asian, Latinx, LGBTQ, These are people that have been marginalized.

5:11:20

They've been affected by the cabaret law.

5:11:22

This is the reason why We started the New York City dance parade in 2007.

5:11:29

It was a protest.

5:11:31

It was really terrible to read about how this 1926 law affected so many people.

5:11:39

It's suppressed culture.

5:11:41

It's suppressed marginalized communities, communities, immigrant communities, people who, you know, this is this is how they connect to their their brothers and sisters, their, you know, being new in this country.

5:11:56

It's very important for them.

5:11:58

And I hear today a lot of concerns about nightlife.

5:12:02

And yes, it should be it should be addressed.

5:12:08

But We have some of the most stringent fire safety, building codes, and noise codes in the nation.

5:12:17

And What's gonna happen?

5:12:20

Well, the Department of Buildings has 600 inspectors.

5:12:23

That's what we learned from the City Planning Commission.

5:12:27

And We need we need them.

5:12:30

You know?

5:12:31

But what we need more is to recognize that dancing should be a 1st amendment right.

5:12:38

Because there are so many people that need this.

5:12:48

I just really wanna say one last thing.

5:12:51

I don't want the city council to unintentionally perpetuate systemic racism.

5:12:57

Right?

5:12:58

This is so important for so many people, and we have to do the right thing.

5:13:02

Thank you so much for taking on this huge issue, mayor Adams made a campaign pledge to fix dancing.

5:13:12

The city planning commission, the the city department of city planning did so much.

5:13:18

And we're all in service of this city.

5:13:21

We have to find the balance.

5:13:23

And I really I believe in you, sir, and and the city council for doing the right thing.

5:13:28

Thank you.

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Sommay Jaijong, Owner of May Kaidee Vegan Thai Restaurant, on Zoning Changes to Allow Dancing and Promote Veganism