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Skyplex “18-and-Over” Events Cleared for Takeoff

by Bill Dusty

Under extraordinary measures designed to ensure no underage drinking and “optimum public safety to patrons,” Mayor Domenic J. Sarno cleared the way for the Skyplex Entertainment Complex to hold five “18-and-over” events, scheduled for December 31, January 7, January 14, January 21, and January 28.

The Mayor’s approval of permit requests from the Skyplex comes after nearly a year of political and legal wrangling following a lawsuit filed by Skyplex owners this past summer in which the owners, Mike Barrasso and Steven Stein, argued that past denials of their permitting were politically motivated and unnecessary. The Mayor’s Office announced that the new permit approvals are unrelated to the lawsuit, which concluded this past October with a ruling still pending, according to a Republican story on the recent permit approvals.

The Skyplex used to hold 18-and-over nights twice a week until a shooting took place outside a neighboring bar, the 1800 Club, on Worthington Street back in February, 2009. Since then, special permits have been required for any under-21 events at downtown bars.

Earlier this month, Mayor Sarno also approved new licenses for four adult clubs located in the downtown entertainment district. Two of those establishments had been the sites of fatal shootings this year. The four club owners submitted a collaborative plan for improved security measures this past November which was later accepted by the Mayor. At the time, according to a Republican article, Sarno called the safety conditions required of the bars “the strictest in the city’s history.”

But no more.

The requirements for the four adult clubs – the Mardi Gras, Center Stage, the Fifth Alarm, and Club 418 (now Lace) – include the installation metal detectors, better security cameras, and special training of the staff. A new “security director” will also oversee security at all four bars.

At the Skyplex, meanwhile (where no shootings have actually occurred), four extra-duty police officers will have to be hired to patrol the bar, metal wands are to be used at all entrances, and all security staff are to be trained in public safety, civil law, basic criminal justice, search and seizure, use of force, first aid, threat assessment, gang awareness, de-escalation, and – last but not least – customer service. In addition, the owners must install a “Bio-Metric facial recognition system” that will capture head shots of everyone entering the bar while also scanning each person’s positive identification.

“The City will monitor this establishment closely to confirm they remain in compliance,” said Sarno in a statement announcing the permit approvals.

There have been repeated calls in some quarters for the closing of the city’s strip clubs altogether. Back in November, an editorial in the Republican called for the permanent closing of any strip club involved in a shooting or stabbing.

The four downtown strip clubs, all technically owned by different entities, are all connected in some way to James Santaniello, who, under BSC Realty, owns the property where some of the bars are located. Santaniello’s wife, Helen, meanwhile, owns the Club 418 (Lace), while his long-time “associate,” Sherri-Lynn Via, owns both Center Stage and the 350 Grill, a restaurant attached to the Mardi Gras, which itself is owned by James’s brother, Anthony Santaniello. Members of the Santaniello family are also regular political contributors to the Sarno campaign.

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Posted by Bill Dusty on Dec 31st, 2009 and filed under Entertainment, Feature Stories, Latest Posts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.