Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club

The Inaugural Lavender Padlock Award

The Lavender Padlock is given in order to expose anti-nightlife zealots who work assiduously to close our legally-licensed community establishments. These city-living suburbanites want all the advantages and conveniences of city life but also want the quiet and quaintness of the suburbs. Furthermore, they victimize the LGBT community at the expense of our city budget.

The modern gay movement began in a bar: Stonewall. Now, as it was back in the 1960’s, our bars are raided, harassed, often denied liquor licenses, and closed. These awardees wouldn’t have allowed Stonewall to even exist so they must be held accountable for the harm they are doing to the LGBT community. They deny our community the right to gather and socialize; they deny us the right to operate businesses; and by their actions they take away from the city the tax revenue needed to pay for vital services for all of us.

So here they are, our inaugural Lavender Padlock award winners...

Susan Stetzer
Community Board 3 District Manager Lower East Side

Ms. Stetzer browbeats liquor license applicants to determine who can open nightlife establishments, where they can be located, and what conditions are necessary for their operation. Bar operators and prospective owners must grovel before the heavy-handed Stetzer for the opportunity to operate a business, and establishments are often not allowed to open within CB3’s district on the Lower East Side.

Tell Ms. Stetzer (212-533-6015) to stop living in the Victorian Era!

Sen. Daniel Squadron
25th Senate District: Lower East Side, Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg and Carroll Gardens

Sen. Squadron brags about persuading state legislators to pass repressive and unfair bills that often prohibit nightlife establishments from opening throughout the city and curtail the rights of existing business that cater to the city’s nightlife. Sen. Squadron is nightlife’s “Enemy Number One” in the State Senate.

Both Sen. Squadron and Ms. Stetzer are fond of using taxpayer dollars to deprive us of the right to enjoy our nightlife.

Tell Senator Squadron (212-298-5565) that his district is in New York City, not Mayberry!