A protest of the liquor license application from the AMC Loews Nassau Metroplex 10 was held by community members in front of the theater on Saturday.
Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and Councilman Gary Hudes announced the rally in a letter sent to Levittown residents last week. Numerous community leaders spoke at the rally, calling the plan an invitation for underage drinking and saying that it will create situations unsuitable for children.
Opponents included the presidents of the Levittown and Island Trees school boards. Levittown president Mike Pappas, who spoke at the rally, told the crowd that the school board unanimously voted against the planned license through a resolution at their Dec. 14 meeting. Nassau County PBA president James Carver also spoke against the license.
Patch asked the AMC company for a response, and below is a response in its entirety from Vice President of Film Marketing and Communications Sun Dee Larson:
We understand officials in Hempstead sent a letter to residents about our interest in a liquor license for the AMC Loews Nassau Metroplex 10, but the letter voicing concern was never addressed with AMC directly. Our intention is always to work with local officials to hear and address any concerns. We reached out last week to begin those discussions and our calls have not been returned. We are confident when residents and members of the municipality fully understand the nature of our new concept and signature menu – which encompasses a much broader upgrade to the food and beverage offerings at this location – we believe the concerns will subside.
An unofficial poll run by Patch on the issue last week sees residents split 55 percent to 45 percent against the license. To vote in the poll, go here.
The smart thing to do is remain diligent in educating kids about taking responsibility and the dangers to themselves and others if they start drinking/smoking/doing drugs. A protest outside of the Lowes is all well and good, but sitting the kids down both at school and home seems like a far more valuable use of time. Best Tom LaSusa
Hangover 1 & 2 were rated R, no one under 17 admitted w/o an adult. But Toy Story 3- Rated G where I dropped my kids off- unsupervised, not expecting alcohol being sold. There are enough problems w/o alcohol, as the N.C. PBA Pres. Jim Carver said. He represents 4000- cops and has been a cop for 25 years and says this is a going to be a problem, I would tend to agree. When serious drinking related incidents occur, you will be the same ones who say " Who let this happen".I agree with the 200 people and speakers. That's my opinion. I'm also a P.O. A buddy of mine is a P.O in NJ where a theater sells alcohol. The place is now a headache. 2 theaters in Bklyn have applied. That's trouble. There's no legal way to enforce underage drinking in a movie. You cant walk up and down the aisles with a flashlight searching cups. Once consumed, there is no public intox law in NY, only public possession of open alcoholic containers in NY, but its okay if it occurs in a licensed premise. (if your 21) So what's a cop have to do? Stop everybody who looks like they are < 21 to smell the red cup for alcohol. If they're 21, say you're sorry. If they switched cups, do you ask to smell it? Cops don’t patrol inside theaters. There’s no legal /practical way to police the consumption. You could use undercover, police cadets to monitor the sale to minors, but you can’t see exchanges in a darkened theater. This is a recipe for trouble we don't need. My opinion only of course.
keep picketing about stupid issues of beerzzz and keep allowing drugs in the schools... U r not in the bible belt but I am and I do not drink but who cares if everybody wants to waste their dough on peeeepeeee water :( good grief protest about something important Charlie Brown) just another rediculous way that