“It Would Make Problems on Federal Hill Way Worse” - Senator Blasts Miller Ordinance Changes
GoLocalProv News Team and News Editor Kate Nagle
“It Would Make Problems on Federal Hill Way Worse” - Senator Blasts Miller Ordinance Changes
“The new entertainment ordinance that is moving through the council is sponsored by [Council President] Rachel Miller, and to me, it’s really about Federal Hill and I think two different visions about how we should approach the issue of bars and restaurants on Federal Hill and the disruptions they cause for neighbors," said State Senator Sam Bell, a Democrat who represents both the area that is both commercial and residential.
"The Council President and I have usually been in alignment on the vast majority of issues but this is an area where I strongly disagree with her and I am very concerned about the neighborhood I represent and the negative impact that it will have on Federal Hill," he added.
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Miller's Changes Would Be "Extreme Degulation"
The proposed changes before the Ordinance Committee on Wednesday night would allow restaurants to permit more musicians to play at their establishments, along with amplified equipment both indoors and out - and allow for dancing under a restaurant license, which is currently prohibited.
“This proposal involves what I would say is extreme deregulation of our system of enforcement of bars and restaurants, particularly the system that keeps restaurant licenses from basically being used as nightclubs,” said Bell. “[GoLocal] has reported recently on incidents [on the Hill] in certain establishments that actually have restaurant licenses, which is a much lower level of enforcement which is not set up to handle enforcement of bars.”
As GoLocal wrote in November, "On many weekends in Providence, Federal Hill is the epicenter of crime and violence. It is no longer a great strip of restaurants for family dinners, engagements, and anniversary celebrations. Now, Federal Hill is shootings, fights, robberies, and stabbings."
On Tuesday, Miller did not respond when GoLocal reached out for comment.
Meanwhile, the City Council this week announced the launch of its own city-funded media platform.
In the agenda packet for the Ordinance Committee meeting on Wednesday night, several letters of support were submitted, including from Kenneth Zorabedian with United Parking, who owns Bodega on Smith.
“These types of changes represent a positive step in leveling the playing field, enabling small businesses to offer the types of entertainment that customers are looking for,” wrote Zorabedian.
“To remain competitive with other restaurants both in and outside of Providence, we need amplified music to create an atmosphere that keeps pace with modern dining expectations,” wrote Angel Winpenny, owner of The Patio on Broadway.
On Tuesday, Bell shared his concerns with GoLocal.
“The proposal is a radical disruption. Currently, in order to have music in a restaurant without a permit, it has to be three instruments or fewer and to be all acoustic, and you can’t have any amplification,” said Bell. “They proposed to allow amplification and removed the limit on the number of instruments and that they must be acoustic. Basically you can [now] have a rock band."
“Then they propose to allow this as an ancillary use to outdoor dining," said Bell, meaning the loosening of music restrictions applies to outdoor dining as well. "This is where it particularly impacts Federal Hill, where we have wonderful outdoor dining experiences. It’s at least as important to mitigate the neighborhood impact. I think allowing amplified music by right would not be in the neighborhood’s best interests.”
Restaurants as de facto Clubs and New Noise Issues
“It also removes the prohibition on patrons dancing without any permits. So could set up a dance floor by right in a restaurant [under this ordinance]," said Bell. "Which opens up the door even further to basically, if you want to set up a bar or a nightclub, just get a restaurant license.”
“Another element that’s concerning to me, maybe a little less so, is it blows open the requirements around big events," said Bell. "They basically allow three times as many; they removed noise as a valid criterion to reject events, and they make it so that the Board of Licenses can approve it and doesn’t require a special event permit which makes it much easier to get these big events and you longer have to worry about noise, which is also potentially damaging thing."
“It kind of blows open the fundamentals of what has protected restaurant licenses being used for bars. and it allows a dramatic increase in the amount of neighborhood disruptions and noise, but I also really worry about the trends, where we’re been seeing things happen in places that have restaurant licenses and aren’t subject to nightclub and bar enforcement and basically operate that way,” said Bell. “I’m worried that will blast this open and make those problems way, way worse."
“It’s unusual that I’m taking the step of openly and publicly opposing something that one of my fellow elected officials is promoting, particularly as it’s a municipal issue and not in the General Assembly’s purview. I don’t do this lightly. But I am very concerned about the impact this would have citywide but especially on Federal Hill,” said Bell. “Look, we have wonderful restaurants, it’s a safe neighborhood, everyone should feel excited to go eat on Federal Hill but neighborhood impacts are real, and the need for adequate enforcement is real."
“There have been real problems that have gone one from insufficient enforcement and in particular what worries me is we have seen a trend of problems happening at restaurants with restaurant licenses that really aren’t operating as restaurants.