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NY party police shut down three superclubs

Author: Jonty Skrufff
Friday, November 10, 2006

Cops closed down the Roxy, Happy Valley and Avalon in New York City last week in their latest onslaught against nightclubs in Manhattan.

While Roxy was shuttered for alleged non-payment of taxes and Happy Valley over a property dispute with the building’s landlords, Avalon (formerly known as Limelight) was shut for violating the Cabaret Laws, New York’s infamous 1920s era anti-dancing statutes.

According to press reports, Avalon promoters were unable to renew their Cabaret License after being barred access to the building following an earlier closure, which meant they couldn’t obtain the necessary paperwork in time. Leading club promoter John Blair, who previously was forced to close Spirit and hosted Sunday night parties at Avalon, as well as events at Roxy, told the Village Voice he was disgusted by the police tactics.

"I’ve been in it (club promotion) for 30 years but no longer. I’m not going to invest in anything or own anything in New York City again,” he complained. “The police have turned the city into a Gestapo state."

Avalon co-promoter Susanne Bartsch, who was hosting a Halloween party at the club when police raided at 1.45am, said she was personally harassed by cops, with one officer refusing to allow her back inside the building after she went outside to meet her husband and deal with the raid.

"He was so disgusting, the policeman was willing to send me into the night without a handbag, without money, without keys,” she told New York Blade. “They say they are trying to protect people, but it symbolises how unreasonable they are. They are just out to get the clubs."

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