No Backgammon or Alcohol in New Haven
Residents of Grand Avenue, New Haven are protesting against the intention of a newly founded games club to allow liquor in its planned domino tournaments. Fearing alcoholic drinks and the presence of a full size pool table placed in the center of the establishment would draw unwanted personalities to the quiet neighborhood, 20 of the club neighbors have said no to backgammon and alcohol in their close surroundings during a meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).
It is not the domino tournaments or the "games of backgammon" that raises Grand Avenue locals' unanimously objection, explained one of the protestors. A social club will not be able to live of the domino or backgammon tournaments entry fees, he continued, suggesting "other activities" would be part of the deal. It is a matter of quality of life, claimed another, describing the predictable noise coming out of the club and the nearby parking lot.
Although the representatives of the club, Roberto Perez, head of the local dominos club, and Frank Alvarado, director of the Spanish American Merchants Association, stressed that their venture would be a place for local dominoes and other board games enthusiasts to hook, accompanied by bottles of booze, their opponents could not be convinced. Squinting towards adjacent Project Apoyo, and pushing forward their prams, Grand Avenue residents insisted that a liquory domino tournament would deteriorate the neighborhood.
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