Three Providence nightclubs to go before Board of Licenses after violence
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – Rooftop at Providence G, Flow nightclub and Noah lounge are all set to go before the Providence Board of Licenses for a show-cause hearing Wednesday.
The establishments were ordered by the board to close after violent crimes happened inside or near the spots.
On August 19, a patron was shot in the back while inside Flow nightclub. At Monday evening’s hearing, the board voted to allow the establishment to reopen ahead of Wednesday’s meeting.
On August 24, four men were stabbed outside of Noah lounge on Broad Street. The club was ordered on Monday to remain closed.
A day later, on August 25, a stabbing took place outside the Rooftop at Providence G. The establishment was ordered to close, but will be allowed to reopen Monday evening for a private event only.
Police are reviewing surveillance video from the night and will determine if there is a public danger. If police find there is no danger, Rooftop will be allowed to open as soon as Tuesday to the public.
“Anytime there is an act of violence in our city, there is a financial but more importantly a human cost.”
Councilman David Salvatore is urging the city to step in and work to stop the violence at city nightclubs. He wants club owners to come to the table and help come up with a solution.
“That open-door policy is going to be very important moving forward to resolve many of these issues,” said Salvatore.
Salvatore also suggests the city reviews the Pine Report, a report released in 2016 by former Attorney General Jeffrey Pine, full of recommendations to improve the Board of Licenses.
Chairman of the board, Dylan Conley, said he’s been in talks recently with city leaders to come up with an answer.
“To improve the quality of life for our residents as well as the business atmosphere for club owners. There’s a huge demand for this sort of entertainment and we need to find a way that people can enjoy that sort of entertainment safely.”
© WLNE-TV 2019
