Q&A
Q&A on potential impact of hotel licensing legislation
3:26:45
·
81 sec
Council Member Julie Menin engages in a brief Q&A session with a representative from the Kew Gardens Civic Association about the potential impact of the proposed hotel licensing legislation.
- The council member asks if the tragedy at the Umbrella Hotel could have been prevented with licensing.
- The representative suggests that licensing could have allowed for swift action to close the hotel, potentially preventing criminal activities and loss of life.
- The discussion highlights the limitations of existing laws in addressing problematic hotel operations.
Julie Menin
3:26:45
Thank you very much.
3:26:46
One question that I have for you is so do you feel then that had the umbrella hotel been licensed at that time that this tragedy could have been prevented?
UNKNOWN
3:26:59
We think that if there had been some type of licensing, that could have the license could have been taken away and put them out of business, at least temporarily closed them.
3:27:11
This whole ugly epoch that happened during the pandemic, would not have happened.
3:27:16
The people who were shot would not have been shot.
3:27:20
The people who were murdered.
3:27:21
The people who were maimed.
3:27:23
The people who were human traffic.
3:27:25
It would not have happened if we had been able to take swift remedial action.
3:27:29
At the time, the public nuisance laws did not cover this.
3:27:33
And the best that the city could come up was a March act, which was given into the hands of the 100 2nd precinct who were just out of their league.
3:27:43
It was just scratches and little nicks taken, and the whole situation got completely out of hand until it was too late that someone's life was lost, which we had cautioned about, and then the hotel closed on its own.
Julie Menin
3:28:01
Thank you very much for being here today.
3:28:03
We appreciate your testimony so much.
3:28:05
Thank you.
