Two stories highlight the changing face of enforcement in the city. First, the Times looks at the Health Department’s renewed push to enforce the smoking ban, revealing that the agency has employed “younger and hipper-looking” inspectors to sneak into clubs like M2, which may have its food and beverage license stripped as early as this week. Second, Crain’s looks at the SLA’s new commissioner, Dennis Rosen, and finds that although he’s ratcheting up local enforcement as previously noted (since he was hired in late September, the SLA has revoked or temporarily suspended nine downstate licenses, much more than it had in the previous eighteen months), he also may end the trend toward earlier closing times, since a question asking about closing hours has been eliminated from liquor license applications.
The Gunslinger [Crain’s]
City Tries to Shut Club It Says Flouts Smoking Ban [NY Times]
