Council Passes 'Bouncer Bill' Tightening Bar Security

Council Speaker Quinn, at podium announces 3-Point Plan To Improve Nightclub Safety as members of the council listen. In the wake of incidents where bouncers from bars and clubs have been involved in crimes including murder, the City Council last week unanimously approved legislation tightening security at nightclubs and bars and authorizing shutdowns of those establishments which fail to conduct background checks of security employees.

The legislation also makes failure to comply with the new security provisions just cause for refusal to issue a cabaret license, which permits dancing in nightclubs.

Following passage of the bills which also reinforce existing requirements imposed under state laws, Council Speaker Christine Quinn declared: "New York City's clubs exist very close to residents and because of that, we must make sure there are strong laws on the books so that the bad apples can be weeded out. Clubs in our city that are operating well and that are adding to our economy should be allowed to continue, but the negligent operators need to be shut down."

Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria), chair of the Public Safety Committee, noted, "New York is the safest big city in the world and we deserve the safest nightlife in the world."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to sign the legislation into law.

The legislation was proposed following the murder of Imette St. Guillen, a 24year-old graduate student, last February after she left a lower Manhattan bar. The establishment's bouncer has been charged in her murder.

During the debate on the bill, Vallone