It looks like Mayor Domenic Sarno and downtown club owners Steven Stein and Mike Barrasso are not exactly ready to kiss and make up.
Earlier today, Sarno’s Law Department issued a cease-and-desist letter to the owners of the Paramount Theater, ordering them not to hold a party planned for Aug. 21. A flyer for the event, called “Wrecking Ball,” advertises it as a farewell to the nearby, defunct Asylum nightclub, which the city is about to tear down for a parking lot. According to the flyer, “True [P]roductions figured this would be a better time than ever to have a reunion, and show the city of Springfield that they can bust down a building, but they can’t break our spirit.”
But the city can, apparently, break up the party. The Law Department letter, which is addressed to Stein, manager of record of 1700 Main Street Inc. (the company that owns the Paramount), says the organizers cannot hold the party because they did not get a required special event permit from the city.
“The City has had a policy in place for Under 21 events and in this case it has not been followed,” Sarno said in a press statement. “The event invitation appears to be a rave style event extended to hundreds of young individuals from Springfield and surrounding communities and the only information the City has about this event is the information contained on the flyer. …
“As of today, individuals who planned to attend the Springfield portion of this event should know that the event will not take place,” the release continued. City Hall will “review and consider the appropriate application when and if it is filed with the City,” it added.
The Wrecking Ball party, according to the flyer, was to be open to all ages, “21+ to drink.” The party was scheduled for 4 p.m. to midnight at the Paramount, followed by an after party from 12:30 to 6 a.m. at the Windsor Lounge, Ballroom and Hotel in Windsor Locks.
This isn’t the first time Sarno has butted heads with Stein and his partner, Barrasso. Last year, the latter two sued the city after another club they own, Skyplex, was denied permits to hold under-21 events. The suit contended that Sarno denied the permits as retaliation after Stein and Barrasso declined to hold a political fundraiser for him in 2007. Under oath in court, the mayor emphatically denied that charge.
A judge’s ruling in that lawsuit is still pending. In the meantime, City Hall and the club owners have continued to battle over permits for Skyplex—and now, for the Paramount.
