No dancing around the issue

Steve Barnes on the city of Albany's decision to preemptively shut down a burlesque show at the Lark Tavern this week based on info in the show's poster: "The city of Albany's incompetent, tone-deaf regulatory war on entertainment continues." [TU]

Comments

Uh-oh. What happens if the city of Albany determines that the Santa Speedo Sprint is adult entertainment due to the prevalence of underwear?

I think all the stakeholders need to sit down and execute a game plan for appropriately balancing the quality of life issues for the residents (it is their neighborhood), the demands of consumers, and the needs of the businesses. Poor leadership under Jennings and the hazy regulatory landscape that has been erected by the Common Council and poorly executed by the Jennings Administration has led to a lot of needless sniping and an overall poor image of Albany.

As a young working professional who decided to live and invest in Albany, I was hoping that the City could continue to build off of the mild successes of expanding our recreational and cultural opportunities, further attracting young families and strengthen our City. However, it seems like the momentum in that direction is fizzling out because the stakeholders refuse to sit down to discuss a fair, legal and appropriate framework for development in our City, and instead prefer to go rouge (like target this entertainment event). Furthermore, the Jennings administration has used the cloudy regulatory framework to inconsistently targeted this event or that and stifle new development (remember those great plans for the Bull and Buddha that got pulled by the poorly crafted, ironic and stupid Albany Zoning decision).

I have many friends who would love to relocate from NYC and settle in our great City, but who are constantly amazed when I tell them about these friendly fire decisions and actions going on within our City, stifling the vigor of our City and the development of our commercial tax base.

I propose that our leaders (neighborhood associations, Council Leaders, Jennings and Administrative Heads, Business Districts, and residents) sit down for a Summit in the New Year, fresh from the history, and for once come up with an action plan that addresses everyone’s needs and moves are City forward…

I've been to several of these delightful shows none of which featured nudity or untoward behavior. If Jamison isn't "aware of these shows" that have been around, and well-attended, for years then it's clearly evident that he's had his head up his arse.

Albany sucks...period.

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