Opponents have filed suit in Brooklyn Supreme Court, arguing that the proposed $64 million, 8,000-seat amphitheater would violate the city’s “500-foot” rule banning amplified sound within 500 feet of houses of worship (among other specified facilities).
So how is Markowitz reacting? Is he being a “mensch” (since we’re on a Yiddish kick…) and acknowledging that his amphitheater would indeed disturb the not one, but two synagogues well under 500 feet from the site?
No. Markowitz is now trying to actually change the law to allow such amphitheaters to blast the concerts during synagogue services. The change, proposed by Queens City Councilman Peter Vallone reportedly under the urging of Mayor Bloomberg (we guess it would be hard to get any Brooklyn councilman to do this) states:
…(A)pplicants seeking permits in relation to a sound device or apparatus located in a fixed open air structure such as a band shell, amphitheater, stadium or similar permanent structure used for performances or events, shall not be subject to the special restrictions…
The law would expire after 90 days, giving Markowitz enough time to still hold his regular Thursday evening concert series this summer at the existing bandshell.
It's amazing that Markowitz doesn't seem to realize that if he hadn't been pushing his boondoggle amphitheater project so adamantly, it's doubtful anyone would have ever brought a lawsuit to stop the summer concerts, which have been held for nearly two decades now. Residents and synagogue officials were never crazy about the Thursday night concert series, but they put up with it, realizing that it was just once a week for the summer. But now that Markowitz wants to shove a year-round, 8,000 seat amphitheater down their throats -- should it be any surprise they would sue?
Yes, Mr. Markowitz, it is a shonda.
