An Internet advertisement urged the ladies to come “show off what y’all been working so hard for, those washboard abs, six packs, lovely curves, small waist and them thick thighs.”
And they did.
According to neighborhood residents, more than 500 people crammed the club to get in on the action.
“I cannot understand advertising on the Internet, knowing you don’t have a Public Assembly Permit and knowing you’ll have more than 75 people there,” Councilman Jimmy Vacca said completely astounded by the owner’s complete disregard for the law. “It defies imagination that they would do this.”
Community activist Roger Bombace said such irresponsible management began in November when Karma’s owner, Marcia Bridgett, told Community Board 11 the establishment would be a respectable family restaurant.
However the ad that encourages the female visitors to wear two-piece swimsuits and mini skirts because “It gets so hot in Karma that’s all you need to wear,” seems to negate her claim.
“They’re not respecting any of the laws that apply to them,” Bombace said. “Something really needs to be done about this.”
Senator Jeff Klein agreed wholeheartedly. “It is unacceptable to snub the community and then terrorize us with drugs and gun violence,” he said, referring to a recent threat made to a News 12 reporter by one of the club’s members.
While Klein’s been working closely with the State Liquor Authority to revoke the club’s liquor license, the agency’s most recent decision revealed a staggering verdict.
On July 17, on the recommendation of SLA counsel, commissioner Noreen Healy voted to temporarily suspend Karma’s liquor license.
The win, however, was short lived when the organization’s chairman Daniel Boyle voted to sustain the license but expedite a hearing scheduled to evaluate 11 violations against Bridgett.
“I am disappointed by the chairman’s decision but remain vigilant,” Klein said, noting that he has reached out to the governor’s office for its involvement. “As a lawyer I understand that the burden of proof is on the prosecutor and I’m working closely with him to shut down Karma.”
In the meantime, Councilman Vacca is angered over the 49th Precinct’s dealing with Karma over the weekend.
As Karma still does not have a public assembly permit, Vacca believes the 49th Precinct should have responded to repeat calls made about Karma’s blatant rules infraction.
Despite a shooting over the weekend, Vacca believes some manpower should have been sent to Karma to stymie another potentially dangerous situation, based on previous incidents that include a prior shooting.
“The 49th Precinct has done a good job in enforcing the lack of a public assembly permit since it expired on June 28, but I feel that this weekend, the 49th Precinct was not on their game,” Vacca said, noting that he is looking into affecting a multi-agency response to the area. “This weekend’s response was not what it should have been. I have made it clear that we depend on the police and are looking for their continued help in addressing Karma.”
