Column: Here in Riverhead, when it comes to town code, anything goes

Remember the “Crystal Bar”? How about “Casa Rica”? They were two downtown “restaurants” that were seedy bars in disguise. A man was dragged under a car for miles after an incident at Crystal Bar; there were regular stabbings and beatings at Casa Rica; that bar was ultimately closed after a machete attack. What did both bars have in common? They were out of compliance with town code. If we moved vigorously, we could have shut them down.

Enter “Royal Dorado” East Main Street’s newest problem spot, located right under the nose of Town Hall. In its short history, Royal Dorado has already been the site of a number of assaults, stabbings and a numerous unreported crimes. Sense a pattern? Town Hall didn’t.

Royal Dorado was inspected and permitted to open as a “deli.” Then, some time after receiving their permit, the enterprising folks at Royal Dorado built a bar and started serving alcohol. When the first stabbing took place there, did it dawn on Town Hall to cite the deli turned bar for being out of code compliance? Nope.

I don’t blame the code enforcement staff; they’ve got a tough job. I don’t blame the police, they do a great job under tough circumstances. I do have a problem with leadership that couldn’t immediately figure out what this “deli” was all about. Of Royal Dorado, Police Chief Hegermiller said, “We have our eye on it.” Have your eye on it? I would hope so, this deli turned bar is practically across the street from Town Hall.

Finally, a few days ago, with an election looming, remarkably, Royal Dorado was shut down. Amazingly, it turns out, this deli/bar lacked the proper use permits and was found in flagrant violation of town code. Aren’t those issues the Town should have resolved after the first stabbing or the first assault? Why does it take an election to make things happen?

This incident raises a real question, why aren’t code enforcement and the police communicating? In a small town like ours why is it we have to wait until there is a deep pattern of wrongdoing before we can figure out what’s going on? Why doesn’t this town bring the full force of Town Hall to bear when it’s obvious something is wrong?

Riverhead neglects and unevenly enforces its code. It shouldn’t take a stabbing or an election to start doing the right thing.

Anthony Coates is the Democratic nominee for Riverhead Town Supervisor. He lives in Riverhead.

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