New York State Liquor Authority Chairman Dennis Rosen, (left), Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell, Jr., and special assistant to Assemblyman Farrell, Franklin Hess, (right), on the corner of Dyckman and Henshaw Streets on Thursday, June 10, 2010, as the chairman tours the areas of Dyckman Street creating the biggest problems for nearby residents. Photo: Amanda Scott

Reported on June 12, 2010

Katie Weaver, 64, is losing sleep. Disrupted throughout the night by either drunken patrons outside Albert’s Mofongo House on Broadway, or motorcyclists revving their engines and doing wheelies, she is desperate to get her life back.

“And sometimes you know there is a little lull and you get to fall asleep, and then boom, something happens and you’re wide awake again. It’s insane,” she said.

Many residents list noise as the chief quality of life issue in Inwood. The 311 statistics for Community District 12, comprised of Inwood and Washington Heights, show over 1,000 calls for noise in the month of May: higher than any other district in Manhattan, including nearby District 9 which reported 493. And with the warm months moving more people outside, the question of who is at fault and what to do about it, sparks impassioned debates from residents, business owners and the New York State Liquor Authority.

For some locals, there is a direct correlation between noise, liquor licenses, and the crowds that ensue. But not everyone agrees the blame should fall squarely on restaurants and bars.

“Outside your restaurant that’s a police issue, a security issue,” said La Sala 78 Café owner, Jose Morales, 31. “Outside of our doors we have no control over what goes on.”

Though Morales’ café does not have a liquor license, he will be pursuing one for a new place he hopes to open soon on 191^st Street and Broadway.

In a May letter to Chairman Dennis Rosen of the New York State Liquor Authority, Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell, Jr. expressed concern over what has become known as “’Alcohol Alley.’” So on June 10, accepting Rosen’s offer to tour Dyckman Street and meet residents, Farrell and members of the community gave Rosen a look at the proximity of establishments operating with liquor licenses.

The area of concern on Dyckman Street is a tight couple of blocks that has several sidewalk cafes swelling this summer with patrons. Resident Cathy Fulwood said she has “nothing against the spirit of enterprise,” but is deeply distressed by both the atmosphere, and the parking of cars on the sidewalk.

“It’s bedlam, and it doesn’t feel safe,” she said.

At the epicenter of the hotspot is the Getty gas station at Dyckman Street and Seamen Avenue. “I call that thing a big headache,” Getty owner Jose Blanco, 40, said when asked about the motorcyclists. Blanco thinks the average age is 35, and said they tend not to fill up with gas but rather stall and congregate, creating a problem for actual customers and neighboring residents.

At a May general meeting, Rosen told residents that it is difficult to either refuse or remove a liquor license because of noise, especially when it is noise caused by motorcyclists or other street activity. In order to uphold enforcement provisions during a legal proceeding Rosen said, the agency has to prove that the licensee was at fault; that he or she knew what was going on, but chose not to intervene. Rosen said, however, that considerable weight is given to the community boards and the contact the agency has with the precincts.

“There are very few licenses that we grant anywhere, over the recommendations of the precincts,” he said.

During the walk-through with Rosen, Captain and Executive Officer Morris A. Wilson of the 34th Precinct said the department had confiscated five cars and four motorcycles in May for noise pollution and other violations. He also told one resident that an increase in checkpoints and surveillance would make the culprits more inclined to “play nice.”

Some local residents have taken to documenting their frustrations. “DINActions” and “AwakeAndHomicidal” are two YouTube channels where Inwood’s noise levels are made public: videos that Commanding Officer Jose A. Navarro said at May’s general meeting could be used as evidence.