Brooklyn City Council Member Wants The Police Invited To Any House Party

Legal Issues

from the sorry,-you're-not-invited dept

When we talked a while back about Boston police catfishing locals in order to suss out where the parties were so that they could shut them down, the general speculation was that it was a heavy-handed attempt at police enforcement. I had gone along with that, because it was an isolated case and no other explanation made sense to me. But perhaps there’s another explanation. When I was in high school and college, I would occasionally learn of some great bash that I had missed over the weekend. There’s a certain level of embarrassment that goes along with the realization that your peers were shotgunning beers, inhaling certain plant fumes, and throwing up in someone’s bushes without you. How dare they! If only there was some way the squares could know where these get-togethers were happening and when, then we could just show the hell up and demand entry. Sadly, no such notification method existed.

That might change, however, if Brooklyn City Council member and likely party-non-invitee Jumaane Williams gets his way. Williams announced his plan to propose a local regulation that would require any house party of more than 40 people to notify the NYPD and community board with at least 3 days advanced warning that there’s a shindig in the works. Also, he’d like to fine the hell out of anyone who manages to get more people at their parties than Williams did at his really, really embarrassing fifth birthday party when a couple of kids only showed up for the clown and then left before the cake was cut.

City Council member Jumaane Williams said he will propose legislation that would require hosts to notify local police precincts and community boards three days in advance if they intend to throw a party with 40 or more guests, following a multiple shooting that took place in East Flatbush last weekend. Another proposal put forward by Williams would seek to crack down on what the councilman calls “house clubs,” fining homeowners who advertise parties in advance, sell drinks and charge covers at the door.

“We think when there’s 200, 300 people in a backyard, and this happens on a routine basis, you’re really inviting trouble,” Williams said at a press conference earlier this week.

It’s always interesting to me to see a politician display a complete disregard for the concept of private property and the people’s right to assemble. It will be pointed out that the First Amendment specifically assigns the right of assembly as a method to display grievance to the government and seek redress. Surely, most house parties of 40 people might not fall under that designation… until, of course, you seek to require permission for those same parties. Suddenly, partying without notification is a political stance, a form of speech, showing your grievance, in which case the First Amendment suddenly applies.

What’s ridiculous is that it came to this at all. One thug shooting up a party should not result in the government being consulted each time a frat-house sized party takes place. And, no, having a party with 200 people isn’t asking for trouble. It’s asking for a party with 200 people. As long as the local regulations for safety (fire, alcohol laws, etc.) are observed, no further action should be required by the state.

So, sorry, Councilman, but neither you nor the government are invited to the party.

Filed Under: brooklyn, house parties, jumaane williams, legislation, nyc