{"id":239,"date":"2026-07-28T22:48:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T22:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/pierina-ana-sanchez\/?p=239"},"modified":"2026-07-28T22:49:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T22:49:00","slug":"cm-p-sanchez-and-west-bronx-elected-officials-release-statement-on-suspension-of-m-lounge-liquor-license","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/pierina-ana-sanchez\/2026\/07\/28\/cm-p-sanchez-and-west-bronx-elected-officials-release-statement-on-suspension-of-m-lounge-liquor-license\/","title":{"rendered":"WEST BRONX ELECTED OFFICIALS RELEASE STATEMENT ON SUSPENSION OF M LOUNGE LIQUOR LICENSE"},"content":{"rendered":"

BRONX, NY <\/strong>(July 28, 2026) – Following the suspension of M Lounge\u2019s liquor license, a local business with a history of violence and noncompliance, on Friday July 24th, NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera, and New York State Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia shared the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cViolence is not normal, and we will never accept it as inevitable in the West Bronx. Every resident deserves to feel safe at home, on their block, and in establishments serving their community. Businesses must protect their patrons, operate lawfully, and safeguard their neighbors. When they repeatedly fail, government must act decisively, lawfully, and with full respect for due process. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe suspension of M Lounge\u2019s liquor license is an important step toward addressing the dangerous conditions surrounding its operations. The establishment has demonstrated a persistent disregard for public safety, with chronic disorder, late-night disturbances, fights, violence, repeated complaints, agency interventions, and unsuccessful attempts to secure compliance. Then, on July 16, a man was brutally killed, leaving a family in mourning and a community shaken.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe commend the New York State Liquor Authority for expediting its existing investigation and suspending M Lounge\u2019s license following this horrific homicide and the urgent advocacy of local elected officials. We also thank the Governor\u2019s Office, City Hall, the NYPD, and other agencies for coordinating this response.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut this suspension is only the first step. We continue to call upon all relevant agencies to pursue every legal and administrative remedy supported by the evidence, including permanent license revocation and court-authorized closure. Following all required proceedings, M Lounge should not be permitted to continue operating under another address or business name.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur prayers remain with the victim\u2019s loved ones. Violence has surged across our community in recent weeks, and the West Bronx urgently needs greater support, investment, and sustained action to keep our people safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Background:<\/strong> On July 16, 2026, 29-year-old Yeimy Reyes was fatally shot inside the basement of M Lounge Restaurant at 2362 Jerome Avenue, as reported by ABC7 New York,<\/u><\/a>Pix 11<\/u><\/a>, NY Daily News<\/u><\/a>, and Norwood News<\/u><\/a>, following a history of complaints and interventions at the location. <\/p>\n

On July 17, 2026, Council Member Pierina Sanchez, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, State Senator Gustavo Rivera, and Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia sent this joint letter<\/u><\/a>, demanding immediate legal and administrative action and requesting a coordinated response within five business days. <\/p>\n

On July 24, 2026, the New York State Liquor Authority summarily suspended M Lounge\u2019s liquor license<\/u><\/a>, effective immediately. The SLA cited the fatal shooting, evidence of serious security and supervisory failures, and 21 alleged violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. <\/p>\n

## <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BRONX, NY <\/strong>(July 28, 2026) – Following the suspension of M Lounge\u2019s liquor license, a local business with a history of violence and noncompliance, on Friday July 24th, NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera, and New York State Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia shared the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cViolence is not normal, and we will never accept it as inevitable in the West Bronx.<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/a><\/small><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":317,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-housing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/pierina-ana-sanchez\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/pierina-ana-sanchez\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/pierina-ana-sanchez\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/pierina-ana-sanchez\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/317"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/pierina-ana-sanchez\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=239"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/pierina-ana-sanchez\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":241,"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/pierina-ana-sanchez\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239\/revisions\/241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/pierina-ana-sanchez\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/pierina-ana-sanchez\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/pierina-ana-sanchez\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}