HUNTS POINT — The State Liquor Authority wants a notorious South Bronx strip club to stay shuttered.
The board enthusiastically decided at its April 7 meeting to appeal the recent court decision that overturned the cancellation of Platinum Pleasures’ liquor license, and the case will now go before the New York State Court of Appeals.
Platinum Pleasures’ liquor license will remain canceled until the Court of Appeals rules on the case, but the club will be able to open and operate as a juice bar in the meantime.
The strip club lost its liquor license in 2013, partially due to a history of violence at the club, but the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court deemed this punishment too harsh in a March 24 ruling and ordered the SLA to come up with a less severe penalty for the business.
Albert Pirro, the lawyer for Platinum Pleasures and ex-husband of former Westchester District Attorney and TV personality Jeanine Pirro, did not respond to a request for comment.
The SLA sent notification of its intent to appeal the decision on April 13.
Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, State Sen. Jeff Klein and Bronx Community Board 2 District Manager Rafael Salamanca Jr. wrote a letter to SLA Chairman Dennis Rosen soon after the ruling urging him to appeal this decision based on Platinum Pleasures' history of violence and on the negative reputation businesses like it give to Hunts Point.
Klein said he was very pleased that the SLA had followed the letter's advice.
"I applaud the SLA's decision to appeal to the state's highest court and I strongly urge the Court of Appeals to uphold the cancellation of Platinum Pleasures' liquor license," he said in a statement. "These types of low-level, dangerous night clubs are not welcome in our communities."
Dr. Ian Amritt, chair of Bronx Community Board 2, described appealing the case as "the right thing to do" and said he would prefer to have a new and more socially responsible company take charge of Platinum Pleasures' building.
"I would be happy if they would sell that building to another operator with a better reputation of working with communities and maintaining a safe and secure environment that does not break the law," he said. "That’s what I would be happy with."
