New Haven Independent

State Blocks Taurus Club

by Melissa Bailey | June 21, 2007 9:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Propelling the city one step ahead in its campaign to stamp out neighborhood “problem” bars, the state has denied the Taurus Café renewal of its liquor license.

In a decision Thursday, the state Liquor Control Commission ruled the Newhallville bar will no longer be able to serve alcohol starting June 21 because of alleged misdeeds by its owner, Larry Livingston (pictured below at left).

“Larry Livingston is financially irresponsible and disqualified as an applicant to obtain a renewal liquor permit,” wrote hearing officer Elisa A. Nahas — Click here to read her decision.

In a press conference Thursday, City Hall trumpeted the ruling as a victory for the neighborhood, but cautioned the fight was not over.

“The community fought hard to eliminate this nexus of crime and they should be very proud of how they’ve influenced today’s decision,” said Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. “Even if the owners of the Taurus try to come back and regain a liquor license, we’ll continue to fight them.”

DeStefano (pictured) said he thought Livingston would likely try to transfer the bar to another person’s name, then reapply for a liquor license.

The “remonstrance” against the Taurus was prompted by a petition of about 50 Newhallville neighbors who, citing noise, drug dealing, gun violence and quality of life issues like public urination, sought to see the bar shut down. (Click here for a story with neighbors’ point of view; and click here for background on the case). The matter was fought out over 10 long hearings in Hartford, in which police officers, neighbors and a squadron of City Hall staff gave testimony on both sides.

Livingston, reached Thursday, declined comment as to whether the club intended to try for a new license. He deferred questions to his attorney, David Avigdor.

Protest%20avigdor%20morris.jpg “We’re very disappointed in the outcome” of the hearings, said Avigdor (pictured). But he found a silver lining: While the city’s case had focused on the Taurus as a “hotspot” for crime, Nahas’ ruling mentioned nothing along those lines.

The state’s case was based instead on Livingston’s alleged ducking of labor and tax laws.

In her decision, Nahas said Livingston admitted to: not paying any state or federal taxes, not filling out W-2 forms for his employees, and not paying the employer’s share of Social Security payments. “It is clear that Mr. Livingston operates his business in a questionable manner with regard to state and federal labor and/or taxation laws,” Nahas wrote.

Newhallville Alderwomen Katrina Jones and Alfreda Edwards commended the ruling as a neighborhood victory. “I’m really happy; a lot of work has been put into this,” said Edwards, who, at a time of rumored threats, took the risk of testifying herself against the Taurus and recruiting neighbors to do so. She credited the Newhallville Management Team with standing together on the issue.

The two spoke at a press conference across from the Taurus Thursday afternoon, right outside the sparkling new Habitat for Humanity home, still vacant after its owner, who was threatened after voicing opposition to the Taurus, fled to a different part of town. Habitat has since suspended plans for new construction in that immediate area. but the city said its moving ahead with other plans to revitalize Newhallville with owner-occupied homes.

Across the street from the Taurus Thursday, Renyatta Moore (pictured) argued the opposite — that the bar adds to neighborhood quality of life. Before she took a pregnancy leave, the young woman used to work behind the bar.

“Everybody loves the bar,” said Moore, who hopes to return to her post after she has her baby. When the club shut down briefly in recent weeks as Livingston went on vacation, the neighborhood was noticeably dead, she said: “Nobody had anything to do.”

Closing the Taurus, Newhallville’s only bar, would be “a big deal,” said Moore. “Every member of my family has been going there for years.”

For stories related to the Taurus Café, please see:
• Habitat Suspends Plans Near Taurus
• City: Threats Intimidate Would-be Taurus Witnesses

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Comments

Posted by: cedarhillresident | June 22, 2007 8:28 AM

"...the neighborhood was noticeably dead, she said: "Nobody had anything to do.""

And this is a bad thing??

CONGRATE"S!!!!!!!!!!!! To all that fought for this!!

One question... was Johnny ever a part of this fight?? I don't recall him being involved before this victory?? What if they lost would he have been standing there in support of the area to forge ahead with the fight??

When elections are over and if he wins will he still be as "involved" as he is appearing to be right now??

Well any who.... Maybe the other areas with simalar bars can use this case to help there problems.

Posted by: True New Havener | June 22, 2007 11:08 AM

Cedar Hill,

You are right on. This is a big victory for rebuilding this neighborhood.

But you should be fair. Johnny has been at the helm of this fight. No doubt that Larry is clear about that. Recall that Big J announced that this was one of a number of problem bars that he was going to go after this year.

I think the Mayor needs to do more for community policing across the city, but he clearly came down hard in defense of Newhallville on this one. Wait for Newton to come out against it, especially since his family is in the bar business.

We should let the Mayor hear it when he doesn't do enough and there are definitely examples of that but when he does fight like XXXX we should also give him credit and not wonder whether the dozen or so city employees involved in this fight got up one day on their own and decided this would be a focus of their work.

By the way -- I think you should have your own column. You have a great perspective.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | June 22, 2007 8:04 PM

True New Havener Thank you... and thank you for the answer I was not sure if he had been part of this. I was the defender of Johnny in my community for years. But then he left us high and dry when running for gov. So I have to say the state of this city policing and financially has me a bit angry with him. I am waiting for the old Johnny to come back. I think that the first step is admitting he has done wrong and then to fix it. Ya know a gubernatorial 12 step program.

Love the Newton comment :)

Posted by: Dave | June 23, 2007 6:59 AM

After reading the findings I am confused by the story. The following is cut/pasted from the hearning link.

It is alleged that on or about February 19, 2006, the Respondent violated Section 30-47(1), Connecticut General Statutes, in that he is financially irresponsible or neglected to pay a just debt...... Based upon the substantial evidence presented, we do not find the judgment, Julius Lowe vs. Taurus CafÃ©, Inc., Docket No. CV-03-0482997S, to be a "just debt" and do not find the Respondent to be in violation of Section 30-47(1), Connecticut General Statutes. This matter is dismissed.

Posted by: Edward_H | June 23, 2007 3:52 PM

CedarHill

Not sure if you saw this but here is a pretty in depth article about the bar issue.

http://journalism.nyu.edu/portfolio/moon/Blacklisted_Bars.html

There are some very interesting stats in the article.

Posted by: Taxed To Death | June 24, 2007 6:16 PM

Let's see..can we count how many year Mayor DeStefano has been in office -- and let's see, how many years has the Taurus been a problem? oh..and he's now got it temporarily solved..emphasice temporarily...don't get too comfortable. Johnny will work kind of from now til Nov 7...then it'll be Taurus who? Where?

Posted by: cedarhillresident | June 25, 2007 12:08 PM

Edward_H
thanx for the artical, a heck of alot of info!!!!

Posted by: Willie Williams Jr | June 25, 2007 12:36 PM

NOW! Where Are Black People In That Neighborhood Going To Go Now!?.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | June 25, 2007 7:22 PM

Willie

Can I just make a comment. This bar and the other 4 that are on the list of hot spots. Do they do anything to make there bars less of a problem?? If I tell you that there is a problem and you are going to lose your lively hood, you fix the problem. (even of you have a person or to out on the street keeping things cool) The people that go to the bar knew that it could be closed down they should of cooled things down.

Posted by: Edward_H | June 28, 2007 11:27 PM

Willie

NOW! Where Are Black People In That Neighborhood Going To Go Now!?.

If black people in the area need somewhere to go so badly this sounds like a good opportunity for someone to open up a new bar in the area.

State Blocks Taurus Club

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