The 'Great Chelsea Nightclub Massacre'

Why did police raid six nightclubs in Manhattan on the night of March 31?

1 minute read

April 15, 2006, 7:00 AM PDT

By David Gest


"New York's nightclub scene was actually rocked on two fronts. On Friday, March 31, six nightclubs in Chelsea were raided; four of them were shut down. The following Monday, a judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the universally loathed Cabaret Law.

The Cabaret Law, an infamously archaic, Prohibition-Era regulation that forbids dancing without a license has received plenty of attention over the years. While this license can be a problem for smaller nightclubs, even licensed clubs (there are less than 300 licensed establishments in New York) have to worry about obeying the letter of another law, more draconian and casting a far wider net than this one."

Wednesday, April 12, 2006 in New York Press

courses user

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges. Corey D, Transportation Planner

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges.

Corey D, Transportation Planner

Ready to give your planning career a boost?

Broken, uneven sidewalk being damaged by large tree roots in Los Angeles, California.

The City of Broken Sidewalks

Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?

December 5, 2024 - Donald Shoup

Large store in mall with yellow and black STORE CLOSING sign on front.

Shifts in Shopping: Transforming Malls Into Parks

Maybe zombie malls still have a second life — one with a little greenery.

December 8, 2024 - Ruscena Wiederholt

Empty street and high-rise buildings in downtown Chicago, Illinois during COvid-19 pandemic.

Major US Cities Still Suffering Downtown Decline

Research shows that the “donut effect” hollowing out central business districts since the pandemic continues to cause economic decline in the 12 largest American cities.

December 3, 2024 - Stanford University News

Close-up of woman in flowered dress holding bar next to white porcelain sink in bathroom.

Survey: Americans Finding it Harder to ‘Age in Place’

While many people over 65 would prefer to stay in their homes and communities, high housing costs and a lack of accessible infrastructure make it difficult.

4 seconds ago - Smart Cities Dive

Sign for MASS MoCA on brick building.

Old Walls, New Homes

From forgotten buildings to thriving neighborhoods, adaptive reuse has the power to transform our cities.

1 hour ago - PlaceShakers

Dense informal settlement on steep hillside in Brazil.

Housing as a Climate Resilience Strategy

Ensuring that housing, including in informal settlements, is safe and healthy for its residents is a key tool in the fight to build more sustainable and equitable communities in the face of climate migration.

December 11 - Time Magazine

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.