Albany Common Council members want to revamp nightlife

Albany has required business owners who want live entertainment to go through a lengthy permitting process since 2012. But now two common council members want to change that to revamp the city’s nightlife.

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Albany has required business owners who want live entertainment to go through a lengthy permitting process since 2012. But now two common council members want to change that to revamp the city’s nightlife. 

Albany Common Council members want to modify the cabaret licensing requirements to make it easier for bars and restaurants to host live entertainment. 

The conversation was sparked, Sergio Adams said, after ESPN commentator Rebecca Lobo said “good luck finding something to do in Albany” during an NCAA tournament game two months ago. Sergio said there are small pockets throughout the city where things happen.

“But when you look at the city as a whole, we realize that there are gaps in entertainment and fun missing and we want to revive that and bring that back to show everyone that Albany is a place to come live, have fun and enjoy,” said Sergio.

Under the 2012 law, a cabaret is defined as "a room, place or space in the city in which any musical entertainment, singing, dancing or other form of entertainment is permitted". Sergio said they’ve heard concerns from business owners who say the cabaret licensing process makes it harder for them to bring live music into their venues.

“This is just an opportunity for us to look back at the way Albany used to be and how it was thriving and the things that made our downtown successful and bringing those things back,” said Sergio.

In order to have live entertainment, including DJs, business owners have to go through the cabaret licensing process, which requires approvals from the Planning Department, Albany Police Department, Albany Fire Department, Division of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance, Law Department, all common council members as well as any area business improvement districts or neighborhood associations. 

Owner of Johnnie’s on Broadway Jamila Adams, tells NEWS10 she’s having a hard time renewing her cabaret license but it wasn’t always that way.

“When I got my cabaret license, the communication was awesome. They tell me this is what you need to do, they instructed you, they told you when it was coming, they told you how long it was going to be. One even went beyond and said I’ll come down there and bring it to you,” said Jamila.

She said pre-pandemic there was a nightlife scene that even attracted celebrities like Jadakiss. Jamils is all for the proposed modifications to the law.

“Because it shouldn’t be so hard. You have musicians who want to showcase their talent, you have bands that want to showcase their talent, rap artists, poetry. What’s the problem? You have talent in the 518,” said Jamila.

Sergio said he aims to formally introduce the ordinance at the next common council meeting on June 17.