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Tenants Of The Trees Has 'Negatively Impacted' Silver Lake, Says Neighborhood Council
(Photo courtesy of Tenants of the Trees)
The Silver Lake Neighborhood Council (SLNC) is taking aim at Tenants of the Tree, asking that a permit that would allow the bar to host live entertainment be denied, the Eastsider reports. In a letter to the L.A. Police Commission, the neighborhood council is asking them to not approve a Cafe Entertainment/Shows P519 permit for the bar. Such a permit is required for any form of live entertainment, including karaoke. From the SLNC's letter:
After nearly ten (10) months of exhaustive committee, community, and Governing Board meetings, the SLNC concluded that Tenants of the Trees/Out of Order has negatively impacted the quality of life for many of our residents and neighboring businesses due to the following:
• A lack of proper business management.
• Complete disregard for city ordinances and California Alcohol and Beverage Control guidelines.
• Building and Safety requirements have been ignored.
• Americans with Disabilities Act mandates have been disregarded.
• A lack of basic common decency towards our community.
One letter from a lawyer representing The Lew Living Trust, which owns property next to the bar, claims that customers have been urinating and defecating on their client's property, leaving behind trash, and blocking their driveway.
Other complaints from neighbors included loud music late into the night, people being noisy on the patio, trash, vomit, and food trucks that show up late at night resulting in even more trash (possibly more vomit?). One man even said the noise at the bar was so loud that he woke up and "thought someone had put a shoe in the dryer in the laundry room—no exaggeration."
The letter also includes a link to an article in the Los Feliz Ledger about several patrons who have allegedly been drugged while hanging out at the bar.
Last month, comedian Kate Berlant tweeted that she knew of seven women who had been drugged there. A former employee told the Ledger that drugging at the bar was "a trend." The bar's co-owner, Reza Fahim, told LAist that the bar is taking the allegations "very seriously" regardless of whether or not they are true. He also claimed that the former employee the Ledger spoke to, who also claimed that nothing was done about a male customer that allegedly drugged a friend while she was working there, was not being truthful, and did not quit as she had said but had been fired.
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