By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
INWOOD — Tensions continue to run high between some residents and restaurant owners along Dyckman Street, where a a videographer was allegedly attacked as she was videotaping sidewalk cafes apparently operating past their curfews on Inwood’s restaurant row.
As an outsoken opponent of increased noise, traffic and other quality of life issues on Dyckman Street, Maggie Clarke, 56, began recording the street late at night this summer, posting videos on YouTube and even sharing two with Community Board 12 in June when Mamajuana Café’s liquor license came up for renewal.
In the most recent video, she said she recorded about 1:20 a.m. Saturday, Clarke gives a running narrative as she passes sidewalk cafes with people twenty minutes past the time that they are supposed to be closed to patrons.
The video is dark, but people can be made out sitting in the outdoor seating areas at Il Sole and MamaSushi restaurants.
Two minutes and 15 seconds into the video Clarke approaches the Mamajuana Café, where the outside seating area appears to be empty. Suddenly the camera is jolted and an altercation erupts between Clarke and someone off-camera. A man can be heard asking Clarke why she is recording, and a scuffle ensues.
Although the identities of the men videotaped during the altercation are unknown, a security man seen on camera was identified as an employee by Mamajuana Café representatives.
Clarke left the scene without calling the police, but filed a report the following day.
Mamajuana Café's management did not respond to several requests for an interview.
After hearing about the incident, Assemblyman Denny Farrell contacted the 34th Precinct and the State Liquor Authority requesting that both agencies investigate.
The NYPD and SLA did not respond to interview requests.
