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-- Docks lose Liquor Licence
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Shouldn't you be writing your letter of complaint while tears are running down your face?
damn radio hippie
Horrible news!
The Docks should now aim a speaker at the island that pumps out tunes for the maximum time window and decibel level the law will allow for.
Does anybody else think we'd be much better off to just set the islands a blaze? Really, can't we just get rid of those whinny squaters already?
That said, clearly they have the ear of those who make decisions in this city and the way our system works is "he with the most influance wins." So, I guess they deserve to have nice quiet peaceful nights as they clearly play the buy city counsel game better then anyone else. Really, shouldn't we be mad at the Docks for not greazing the right hands?
Solutions to the problem:
1) Buy each islander a pair of earplugs
2) For the oldies, rip out their hearing aids
The end...
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| Originally posted by sticky_shoes Solutions to the problem: 1) Buy each islander a pair of earplugs 2) For the oldies, rip out their hearing aids The end... |
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| Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~* I hope the island sinks |
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| Originally posted by Moral Hazard The noise isn't actually the problem.... it's fun. These people are dead inside! |
Jax says to the islanders:
"Don't hate...participate"
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| Originally posted by geroin www.torontoislandparty.com everyone bring whistles |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Moral Hazard The noise isn't actually the problem.... it's fun. These people are dead inside! |
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| Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~* Anyone up for a TOTA island party? |
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| Originally posted by MKpacha I think we would actually have severe lawsuits against us.... we are all crazy mofos... and if we were prtying for the cause of partying... wow... |
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| Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~* Hey...it's the Toronto Island party...we're allowed to party. They want to cancel ours...let's make theirs ours! |
Last call at Docks nightclub, for now
Popular port lands complex loses licence over noise complaints
Jul. 25, 2006. 05:23 AM
DEBRA BLACK
STAFF REPORTER
In a precedent-setting move, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has revoked the liquor licence of the Docks, a waterfront nightclub and entertainment complex, over noise complaints.
This is the first time the commission has revoked a liquor licence based solely on the issue of noise � a decision that could serve as a warning to other nightclub owners.
The Docks, which can hold 10,000 partygoers, has long been the subject of complaints and frustration from Toronto Island residents, who have waged a 10-year battle to get the facility to turn down the music.
Now it appears the islanders have won � although their victory may be short-lived because the Docks plans to appeal the decision.
"We're not breaking out the champagne yet," said island resident Vivian Pitcher.
Yesterday's decision marks another chapter in the islanders' often tempestuous relationship with the mainland. Over the decades, they have survived more than one attempt to wipe out their way of life for parkland. The victory over the Docks serves as an indication of the community's continuing ability to organize and make itself heard.
The decision may also have longer-term implications on whose interests � those of the residents or the business community � will dominate the future development of the waterfront.
Docks' owner Jerry Sprackman would not comment on the ruling. But in a news release, the club said, "This is more than a local issue."
"The Docks believes that actions of the city and the AGCO serve a very small interest group.... It is this narrow view that now hinders development on the waterfront."
Early yesterday evening, Docks staff continued to serve alcohol in violation of the ruling, but by last night they had stopped.
The news release also said the Docks plans to appeal the decision to revoke its licence and will ask the court for a stay of that decision � so it can continue to serve booze � until the appeal is heard.
"We encourage those who support and enjoy the Docks to make their views known to Mayor (David) Miller and their councillors," the club said.
For years, island residents have complained about emotional stress and sleep deprivation due to noise coming from the nightclub � which is located within 750 metres of 250 households on Ward and Algonquin islands.
Now, Pitcher and others are being toasted as heroes by their neighbours, complimented for their dedication and hard work.
"Nobody wanted it to come to this," Lynn Robinson, of the Toronto Island Community Association, said in a news release. "But the Docks management kept ignoring the law. We hope this sends a message to other club owners that they have to be good neighbours."
"I feel vindicated that we have been heard and I feel that the board listened to us," said Pitcher, who was granted status at the commission hearing. Submissions and evidence were presented from 46 witnesses, many of them island residents, over a 26-day period in 2005.
"After all these years, it was nice to have that opportunity to be able to speak and have someone hear us and then make such a decision on noise and the public interest."
But the islanders' fight is far from over. With the nightclub's decision to appeal the commission's ruling to Ontario's Divisional Court, Pitcher and her fellow islanders could be in for a long battle.
The long fight is, however, a concern for Councillor Paula Fletcher, who represents the ward where the Docks is located. She favours the decision to revoke the club's licence.
"They've been closed down before for overcrowding and other things and they've always managed to rise from the ashes," she said. "We'll see whether they rise from the ashes this time."
In its 45-page decision, the commission ruled it was satisfied that "there is no other reasonable alternative short of revocation" of the liquor licence to address the long-standing complaints of noise violations.
"There is nothing short of revocation that will ameliorate the public's concerns; the noise has been pervasive to their everyday existence," the decision said. "The volume and hours of music has not abated to any great extent over a 10-year period. This is unacceptable for a community � any community."
The Docks is a multi-million-dollar entertainment operation that holds a variety of events, including many large outdoor concerts. During the hearing, Rob Gilroy, a Docks spokesman, said that "if there is no liquor licence, then there will be no Docks � it can't survive."
He suggested that if the club were to close, that would mean the loss of $39 million in taxes to all three levels of government and more than 400 jobs would be cut.
But that argument seemed to hold little sway with the board, which noted the evidence given by residents conveyed "anger and anguish." The impact of the noise has been devastating to many, the board ruled, citing one islander who said that "to Docks patrons, who come and go, noise is a single event, but island residents attend virtually each and every concert and event at the Docks, for the entire duration."
The decision also referred to a significant amount of evidence about the measures taken at the Docks to stop the noise and new systems that were set up to monitor the problem.
The City of Toronto was also pleased with the decision. "Certainly, it's a good decision," said Dawne Jubb, a lawyer with the city. It recognizes that holding a liquor licence comes with certain responsibilities, "to be both a good corporate citizen and a good neighbour," she said.
"The city doesn't want businesses closed down, but corporations should be operating responsibly," Jubb said.
"Our goal was to have them continue their operations and comply with the law. We just couldn't come up with a way that could happen."
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| He suggested that if the club were to close, that would mean the loss of $39 million in taxes to all three levels of government and more than 400 jobs would be cut. |
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| Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~* Hey...it's the Toronto Island party...we're allowed to party. They want to cancel ours...let's make theirs ours! |
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| Originally posted by MKpacha nothing we can't help them out with |
| quote: |
| [i][b]"There is nothing short of revocation that will ameliorate the public's concerns; the noise has been pervasive to their everyday existence," the decision said. "The volume and hours of music has not abated to any great extent over a 10-year period. This is unacceptable for a community � any community." |
ROFL @
"They've been closed down before for overcrowding and other things and they've always managed to rise from the ashes," she said. "We'll see whether they rise from the ashes this time."
Just go and fucking admit it - you've been trying to close down the club for whatever reason you can.
This is ridiculous. 10,000 people are now left with one fewer club to go to because of 250 households.
The Docks should just start having all ages parties like Viva does or a lot of the clubs in Montreal. They still get the all night parties...just less alcohol. Make the islanders know they won't go down without a fight! Haha
I'm not sure about their daytime-sunday parties, but I think all of the events I've attended at Docks were all-ages already.
taken from TRIBE:
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| The woman on the Island who spearheaded the whole thing is widely know to be a total kook. She's kind of like the freak of the Island. Other residents keep their distance. |
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| My co-worker lives on the island on the same side as the people complaining (ward's ferry). She says she's a bit farther in than the 12 or so houses that consistently file complaints, but she can't really hear anything at night. She told me that there were only about 10-12 houses who could actually hear noise at night. |
politicians obviously dont care about jobs. Why? Because im willing to bet that most docks workers dont vote. And if they do they probably dont live in that area and cant vote against that councillor. Which is why the whiney residents will always win over business interests. Even if those interests serve the need of a much greater population.
This is essentially why NIMBYism is succeeding on such a large scale in Canada and this is why im calling for municipal election reforms. Something has to be done in order to balance the two interests because right now all local politicians care about are the taxes that come from households and the votes that come with them.
As for the islanders. They are sitting on a $1 for 99 years lease and yet they still bitch and whine.
Because of them we have no airport bridge and no docks. And its also because of them that many attempts have been made to redevelope the waterfront that have failed. Its time to either remove these squatters or just flat out ignore them. I vote for the latter. The answer to their whine should be "if you dont like the big city, leave!"
However with the way the current political structure is set up, it would take a truely selfless politician with balls to take that position. So dont expect it to happen.
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| Originally posted by Floorwhore taken from TRIBE: [/i] shit like this makes me think that this is a case of the government being a 'bully' towards a nightclub just because they have a few excuses to do so. i really hope this isnt the beginning of a trend to close other venues due to being close to residents in the city. i'm afraid this closure may begin a trend that we all do not want to see happen...... |
my vote is we send drew, pett, jem and the rest of the wemf goons, with 10 flats of heiniken tallboys and 2 - 60's of jagger, some swim googles, and let them loose on the island...... the residents would run screaming for cover
| quote: |
| Originally posted by DigDeep i really hope this isnt the beginning of a trend to close other venues due to being close to residents in the city. i'm afraid this closure may begin a trend that we all do not want to see happen...... |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by colonelcrisp my vote is we send drew, pett, jem and the rest of the wemf goons, with 10 flats of heiniken tallboys and 2 - 60's of jagger, some swim googles, and let them loose on the island...... the residents would run screaming for cover |
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