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Residents Back Resolution to Strip WaHi Restaurant of Wine License

By Carla Zanoni | April 15, 2011 4:59pm | Updated on April 15, 2011 4:58pm
La Caridad #2 on Amsterdam Avenue, near 164th Street, has been the cause of many quality of life complaints and crimes, according to area police and residents.
La Caridad #2 on Amsterdam Avenue, near 164th Street, has been the cause of many quality of life complaints and crimes, according to area police and residents.
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DNAinfo/Carla Zanoni

By Carla Zanoni

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Residents who live near La Caridad — a small, but bustling Spanish restaurant on an already noisy strip of Amsterdam Avenue — said they support a measure to have the restaurant stripped of its wine license.

The eatery, located at 2092 Amsterdam Ave., between 168th and 169th streets, has been the site of many police complaints, said the 33rd Precinct's new Captain Brian Mullen at the CB12 economic development committee meeting earlier this month.

"This place is a particular problem in the summer and is not recommended for a license at this time," he said, listing complaints about the establishment, including "menacing large groups of people with weapons," fights, assaults, and alcohol sold to large groups of patrons (20 to 30 at a time) who were "already drunk."

A Community Board 12 committee voted to recommend its full board vote against the license renewal last week, due to police concerns.

Residents said it's about time the restaurant loses its license.

"Good food during the day, but too noisy at night," said area resident Emile Herrera, 42, who added his children are regularly woken up by the noise of fighting and screaming coming from the restaurant, which is open until 4 a.m.

La Caridad owner Altagracia Marrero said she was not aware of police issues and balked at the characterization of drunken patrons causing problems inside or outside her establishment.

"I'm in business selling beer and wine, how are they going to tell me those people are drunk on that?" Marrero said in Spanish during the CB12 committee meeting earlier this month.

"I can't control problems outside," she added.

Washington Heights resident Julio Diaz, 28, said he couldn't be sure that all of the problems that occur on the busy stretch of Amsterdam Avenue could be attributed to La Caridad, but said the community concern was not a surprise.

"People don't complain for no reason," he said.

The next step for La Caridad's renewal application is for CB12's general board to vote on the measure during its April 26 general meeting.

The community board serves an advisory role, but the State Liquor Authority has the final say on liquor license approvals.