Residents of the Annex are concerned and are looking into violations of the licensing.

I brought up the issue of ordinance violations at the East Shore Management Team meeting last month, but it seems that the Police will not investigate unless someone has an active, visual complaint - which means going in the "theater" - and I'm not going there. The alder for ward 17 was present at the meeting, and is aware of the situation, and so is the Police Lieutenant. What next? The city needs to do a few undercover visits, whether there are active reports or not.
It's clear from reports of people who have been in there, that there are ordinance violations, if not health violations. The parking lot booth, which is unmanned, is also a bit of an eyesore, with plywood and the weeds. LCI ?

If nothing is done remember this in the next election.

I would like to hear an official response from the city about this, and so would the MANY people in the Annex neighborhood who joined in on the initial discussion about the misuse of this "theater" as a place for pickups and very probably, sexual encounters. The city needs to investigate, and we want to hear about it. This is very likely to be a place where there is violation of the terms of the original license with respect to public visibility into the "booths" and of the city ordinances with regard to adult theaters generally, and specifically.

The first post concerning this was first posted on April 23, 2018 and yes the city has yet to respond there is a good chance they have never read these posts. This is why I think it would be best to keep calling the alderperson. The closing of this business would improve the neighborhood.

The issue is open because there has been no response from the city, as far as I know. If there has, it should be made public, or responded to in this forum. Those of us who live in this neighborhood think the ordinances about sexual activity in adult theaters are being flouted by this "theater."

It's well known in this area that the "theater" is largely a rendez-vous site for people looking for sexual activity either in the theater itself, or later. If the health Dept. doesn't care, and if the Police can't do undercover unless someone actually in the theater reports the activity, then New haven is just plain stupid. It's adisgrace to our neighborhood.

The alder for this area is Jody Ortiz

60 Soundview Terrace 203-676-0452

Can the Police please ticket the owners for parking on the sidewalk every day? There is also a lot of debris and trash in their lot, visible from the street.

Has anyone called the media about this activity ? The powers that be do not like adverse publicity. This is an election year. You know who not to vote for. This " theater " has been reported innumerable times & they should be held accountable for taking care of the trash & making sure that vehicles are not parking on the side walk. Ticketing of these vehicles might discourage this kind of activity.

This city has yet to respond to this post, should be called into the alder Judy Oritz 203-676-0452

Until the City health Dept. starts running surprise health and safety inspection checks on this adult facility, it will remain a problem. It is well known as a place for hooking up, and from what I have read in past investigations by Yale journalists, it is disgusting and unsafe.

Still an issue in this neighborhood - a badly lit parking lot, owners who park on the sidewalk all the time, no inspections from the city in any public record?

The city has yet to acknowledge any of the posts concerning this problem the first was on April 23, 2018. I think it would be better to call alder Judy Oritz 203-676-0452 and the police 203 946-6316 when you see any illegal activities

I don't know what the alder can do - except ask the city to investigate undercover and report to the Health dept., so not closing this until something like that happens and there is a response here. Supposedly, they don't investigate unless someone complains to the police...!? I'm not going near the place. As an adult entertainment venue where there are rumors of sexual activity and past reports of this, I would expect the city health dept. would do surprise inspections, but that is probably wishful thinking.

The city has yet to acknowledge any of the posts concerning this problem the first was on April 23, 2018. I think it would be better to call alder Judy Oritz 203-676-0452 and the police 203 946-6316 when you see any illegal activities

I am hoping they will go out of business now, but still leaving this open until an Alderperson or the city gets involved.

Again the city has yet respond to this post, keep calling the alderperson,
The alder for this area is Jody Ortiz
60 Soundview Terrace 203-676-0452

There is no activity due to the COVID regulations. Maybe this business will close. Since there has been no response from the City Health Dept., this issue can close for now.

Lets keep this open and see what happens in the coming months.

Waiting to see if this business reopens. The issue has not gone away, and the owners park their vehicles on the sidewalk all the time, which can't be legal.

Call 203 946-6316 when you see a car parked on the sidewalk

This is happening EVERY DAY. They never get a ticket, and it looks awful.

The property is a real eyesore, as they are not maintaining the front, sides, or even their own entrance, which has a couch outside, weeds everywhere, and often a car or two parked out front, on the sidewalk. See pics. They need a visit from LCI?

Attaching another photo

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Still waiting for the City Health Dept. to do a surprise inspection and publish a REPORT on what they found. It is "common knowledge" around here that the "theater" is a meeting place for people to have sex. It does not belong in this residential neighborhood, is an eyesore and a health ordinance violator, but the city doesn't care.

Moderator approval? Wow...

Posting is not working this was this was first submitted on 4/23/18 and the city has not responded. You have to start calling

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So an anonymous user can block content? I don't understand. Still waiting for the City Health Dept. to get involved in this issue and report publicly.

Only See Click Fix can blocked content

Good to know. Now if only they could forward content to the people who are supposed to take action on what needs to be fixed, it would work.

This post goes back over 3 years and the city has yet to respond, See Click Fix can't make the city read or give feedback. You will be better off calling the alderperson and the police district manager. You can block your number by dialing *82 then the number,works with most numbers but not with 911 and 800 numbers

They have been closed for a little while - I don't know what's going on, but I hope that place is closed permanently, as it is an eyesore and a grandfathered misplaced disgrace in a residential community.

The place continues its illicit activity with a nod and a wink from the city. It is also a disgracefully unkept property, with weeds 6 ft. high right next to the street - a real eyesore.

See pic. And often there are cars parked on the sidewalk in front of the "theater"...

Posting is not going to help the police for the most part do not monitor this site. Call 203 946-6316. You can block your number by dialing *67 then the number. This works with most numbers but not with 800 type numbers and 911. You can also call the alderperson and the police district manager

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You have an active community management team in that neighborhood. You should reach out them and raise this issue at the next CMT meeting. Usually your local NHPD district manager attends the meeting, as well as someone from LCI/Livable City Initiative, as well as neighbors who are active in the community.

Here’s a link to the CMT information:
https://newhavenct.maps.arcgis.com/apps/ZoneLookup/index.html?appid=496bb0488cb649caa7fca6a6ef3ab000&find=31%2520Main%2520St%252C%2520New%2520Haven%252C%2520CT%252C%252006513%252C%2520USA

Thanks for the info, Jane, but if no laws are being broken, what's the problem?

The point is, Tommy - laws and especially ordinances pertaining to health regulations that govern adult entertainment establishments ARE BEING BROKEN. All the time. It's why people go there - to solicit, engage in, and gratify their need for sex. That in itself, the latter part that is, is not against the law, depending on how and where you do it. But the rest is against New Haven's ordinances.

I have studied the ordinances, and I have visited the theater to check, and yes, I can assure you, the ordinances are being totally ignored and violated on a daily basis, at least they were on the one occasion I went in there. Such establishments spread STD's at a minimum and COVID - it is a "theater" in name only. The @#$% on the screen, the @#$% for sale, and all the related paraphernalia, - that's all props for the real activity I've already mentioned.

We are keeping this post alive because neither the Alder nor the Police not the City Health Department seem to be able to put a stop to it, and we don't even know if they are monitoring this post. We get no feedback here. But we who live in this neighborhood, we who have kids who walk by the theater, we who drive by it every day - we want it to go out of business. It is an unregulated, uninspected, unhealthy, filthy and disgusting place, and we want it out of our neighborhood. Failing that, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE RESULTS OF A SURPRISE INSPECTION. WE get nothing, nothing, nothing on this for our taxes.

Jane, thanks for the info. We did bring it up at our own ESMT meeting. Nothing has been done, even though the police Lieutenant knows about it, as do the alders Ortiz and Decola. It's very disappointing.

Posting is fine to keep people informed but it is working. How about calling the mayor's office 203 946-8200 everyday until something is done.

I suggest you email Mayor Elicker and copy the Health Director, all 30 Alders, Chief of Police AND the local media. Nothing like a little media attention to get city officials to respond. THEN you post a copy of the email on SCF and let the City officials know you will post their response on SCF too.

Works like magic.

The problem, according to the Police I have spoken with, is that there isn't usually action unless there is a specific complaint. It has been over 10 years since I went in there, and I don't ever want to go through that again - it was really disgusting in ways I can't even detail here in this forum. I wasn't even 10 feet inside the curtain that separates the "theater" from the @#$% and sex toys shop, and I saw @#$% and mutual masturbation going on right there, in full view. I only stayed about one minute - it was sleazy and creepy to the max.
It's worse than you think, trust me!
In fact, the person who responded above my long comment above pretty much proved my point, albeit unwittingly, unless they were being facetious.
But how do you get the city to respond to something like that? If the city health Department reads this at all - if the city departments concerned even monitor SeeClickFix - there should have been undercover and surprise inspections happening all the time. As far as I know, there is NOTHING going on like that on their end but routine, probably an annual health or safety inspection - surely not when the place is open for "business." So, nothing.
As you can imagine, this whole thing is embarrassing to me personally just because I went in there and investigated it myself many years ago. I thought this site was designed to help people report problems and issues in their city, and to have the concerned city department listen and respond. It obviously is not working, but I don't feel like calling the mayor and everyone about something I don't have current information on. I can only assume things are just the same, and that this "theater" is a place that very probably spreads STD's, AIDS, and more - but that's only informed speculation, not proof. If anyone has connections to the health Dept., please copy and forward this whole thing.

It's a very sad place, actually. One of only two such "adult theaters" left in CT, and for good reason. If people only knew, there would be action - but this forum is not helping and I don't have the time to harrass the alders, the mayor and the Police about it. I brought it up to my alder and local Police Lieutenant, and nothing has been done because there is no "incident" to report.

Sorry, Our New Haven - I don't know what SCF is, unless it is SeeClickFix. But be my guest if you can further the issue. As far as I know, there has been no response from the city on this post, at least not here in this forum, and that's shameful.

Tommy
Does Sam work for the city?

Good morning XYZ,

No, I guess Sam doesn't work for the city.

Here's some information that might be useful. This reported issue is more than 3 years old, but its status is still only "Open". Usually, our city's officials change the status from "Open" to "Acknowledged" within a few days from its reported date.

It might be a good idea to follow Our New Haven's advice and start sending emails.

Personally, I think the theater should remain open. If it's closed, those patrons will find someplace else to engage in their intimate relations, and we might not like where they go (East Rock Park).

At least for now, we can't see what they're doing inside the theater.

Anonymous See Click Fix User

Maybe if a few of us call the mayor's office the city will inspection. Posting is not working and if you have the time to post you should have the time to call

XYZ, I have the time to post at night, not during the day, when I am at work all day.
Are you volunteering to call the mayor's office to ask them to investigate? I'll call if you call.
Thank you Tommy, for pointing out that this post is not yet "acknowledged" - that's crazy - why not? Who is in charge of the "acknowledging"?
And I don't know why XYZ is asking if I work for the city, but I don't.
The issue is a specific complaint - one that doesn't go back ten years. If anyone wants to go in there on a weekend night and see for themselves, and then make a complaint, be my guest. But this really is the City Health Department's job - they should be doing surprise inspections and undercover inspections on adult "theaters" that are places people go for sexual activity. As if they didn't know...
And as far as these patrons finding other places to engage in sex - wherever they go, hopefully they would be discreet enough that the public wouldn't see them. But the attraction of the "theater" apparently, is that is is a meeting place of like-minded and like-needy people - which in and of itself is not a problem - but spreading disease is a problem, and wherever people are having unprotected sex with many partners, disease is being spread. I don't think the place is much of a threat to minors, although this whole post began when I saw a person who looked like a teen hanging around in that parking lot and at the corner of the building, and I thought this was really not a good situation - for the people involved or for any neighborhood.

OK, so my latest comment was blocked by someone, or "blocked by rejections" whatever that means.
So I took action:
here is a copy of the letter I sent to the head of LCI and to mayor Elicker. I hope this won't be "blocked by rejections" too...

Dear Ms. Fernandez, dear Mayor Elicker,

As you probably know, New Haven is host to one of two remaining "adult theater" establishments in all of CT. There has been debate and outrage over the reported sexual activity going on in this establishment for years, and there have been eyewitness reports in the Yale Daily News, and other sources.
There have been calls for the city to run surprise and undercover inspections, especially on weekends - but apparently, nothing is being done. Can you do something about this issue? Can you, Mayor Elicker, ask the city Health Dept. run some surprise and undercover inspections?

A number of residents of the Annex and the nearby neighborhoods are tired of having this establishment, which purportedly flaunts many health and safety ordinances that pertain to such establishments, in their neighborhood. We do not know how to get the city to act on this matter, and we believe the establishment is in very prolonged violation of ordinances, and is spreading disease.

Thank you for your prompt consideration of this important matter.
I am copying this letter to the SeeClickFix post, which has not been acknowledged by the city for a few years now. Please read the entire thread, especially the most recent activity.
I wish to remain anonymous.

SMS

Awesome!

The problem with these posts if someone goes to this place or knows the owner they may tell him and he would have the chance to correct any problems before an inspection.

That's possible, but this is still worth trying. The owner, who provides this venue, is only part of the problem. The patrons are the other part, and I doubt the owner could do much to alter their behavior. If the owner cleans up the gross theater, sanitizes it daily, posts safety notices, that's all to the good, but I don't think it will affect the behavior of the patrons much.
If the owner knew the city health dept. was conducting undercover and random inspections, that might help, but even that would only be a mild deterrent. If there were heavy fines for the ordinance violations that are common currency there, that might help, but the main purpose of such venues is to make money off of a certain clientele that is addicted to this kind of venue, and that, sadly, is just a reality, just as AIDS continues to be a reality, STDs, and so on.

I too hope something is done soon and a year from now someone we be building apartments there. This place should not be there and if the ordinances say different they should be changed

Anonymous See Click Fix user
I am calling the mayor's office now

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Actually, we do have a case. There used to be a school within 500 feet of the place, but the school was torn down. There is a churcvh with an associated daycare facility across the bridge. I don't know the history of why the theater was not closed before. There is also a daycare place nearby on Townsend now, or several, but I don't know the ordinances on that - the "theater" is probably grandfathered in on all those points.

But the main point, and the two main reasons we want the place closed or seriously reformed, is 1. the issue of constant health, safety and ordinance violations, which have been witnessed and reported on, and 2. the misuse and misrepresentation of the venue. I would even add safety as a third reason.

I am not h*m*phobic - I have gay and lesbian friends, and trans friends, and I socialize with them and their families. They are welcome in my church. I also lived in Africa for many years and I know very well that AIDS is spread by heterosexuals as much as by drug users and h*m*sexuals.
Unprotected sex is what is going on in the "theater" all the time, not just on weekends or "all male" nights. Whether there is predatory activity, solicitation, who knows? It's likely there is some, even if the owners light up the parking lot. It goes with the scene - let's not pretend otherwise.

My daughters both walk by there sometimes to go visit a friend or take a bus, and I don't like knowing what goes on in there, and the state of mind people are in when they come out of there.
The violations are not alleged, they have been witnessed and reported on objectively. On several levels, it is not a law-abiding or ordinance-abiding place, and it is unsafe and unwanted in our community, even if it is tolerated.
I will publish any answer I get from LCI or the mayor.

I have no idea why my response was "blocked by rejections" - there was nothing offensive or controversial in my response. This relativistic blocking, rejecting and censorship is unfair and very patronizing.
Tommy, I made it clear in my statement that I am not h*m*ph*bic - I don't know how to spell this word anymore so that the nitwit censor algorithm doesn;t somehow flag every word that might be offensive.

My concern has nothing to do with what you mention, and is strictly about the violation of ordinances and the abuse of the advertised purpose of the venue.
I have to say that I am very annoyed by this forum because of the lack of freedom of expression and the totally relativistic standard someone or some committee has come up with to censor these comments. I spent an hour very carefully crafting a very thorough response to your comment, and the whole thing was thrown out the window by the gatekeeper.
So thanks, gatekeeper, for wasting people's time and effort for no discernable or consistent reason.
It would help if you would communicate to registered users why their content was blocked and totally censored, not even given a chance to be read by others.

Hi Sam,

The SeeClickFix content filters are extremely strict. If you attempt to post anything which might seem offensive by our "Woke Culture", it will be blocked. The days of "Freedom of Speech" are nothing more than a remanent of our country's past.

Our country's values are naught unless you wish to post content that is as politically correct as possible. If you would like to post any content that might offend the snowflakes, please ensure you replace one of the vowels with an asterisk.

We do not live in a country that values "Freedom of Speech".

Anonymous See Click Fix User
I called the mayor' office and spoke to someone and ask her to read some of these posts. I even gave the issue number. Have you called? The number is 203 946-8200

I emailed the New Haven Health Dirctor and Mayor this afternoon and alerted them to this post. MBond@newhavenct.gov,
jelicker@newhavenct.gov

Good afternoon Ms. Bond..

Please see the above referenced health concern at the link below.

https://seeclickfix.com/issues/4366746#new_comment

Thank you,

Thank you for the advice, Tommy. Thank you Our New Haven, for the emails to the city.
Update on the letter - the address of Magali Fernandez did not work, so I re-sent the email to the mayor again and to the director of LCI, A. Samuel. I will post any reply here.

To read a story that was written 12 years ago by a student at Yale, follow the link below.

https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2009/10/09/lonely-men-in-a-lonely-theater/

And here is one of the comments on the Fairmount site, from 2019: - there's not a lot there, but...
as I said, it is a "theater" in name only.

Jackie69Jackie69 on December 12, 2019 at 3:50 am
I went there about 3 weeks ago on a Saturday night. I’m a dresser, and I’m told an attractive one. It was pretty much what I expected, a little worn down and aged. The clerk at the desk seemed nice enough. I paid my money and went into the theatre. It was dark, so I stood up the back letting my eyes adjust. Once I could see, I noticed two or three gentlemen standing in the back of the theatre, and just two more seated. I took off my long coat and one of the gentleman proceeded to walk me down to a seat in the front row. It was there that I thanked him for his assistance. I had a few other gentlemen come visit with me there as well. I had a great time and will be making the trip back as soon as I can!

The site is actually called "Cinema Treasures" and it just documents old theaters.
As one comment says: "lots of old men walking out adjusting their belts." Doesn't say much about the movies and the purported owners license and ordinances needed to run an adult "theater".

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The question and answer part of the page, when you google the Fairmount Theater,

https://www.google.com/search?
gs_ssp=eJzj4tZP1zcsSS7PMDDNMmC0UjWosLBMNU8xt0hNsbS0SDVJTbICCiUZmqYlGiUbpSaaplikWHgJpiVmFuXml-aVKJRkpCaWpBYBAPCzFlw&q=fairmount+theater&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS910US912&oq=fairmount+theater&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j46i175i199i512l3j0i22i30l6.9523j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lpqa=d,2

that I copied and pasted, will probably be flagged, so if you want to read the dialogue of people asking about the place and what goes on there, go to the link and read the Questions and answers. It leaves no doubt as to the real function of the venue.
There's also a facebook page, apparently, that could be enlightening. I'm not on facebook and have never been, so not even trying that. Someone please check it out and report?

Any update on this? Had anyone heard from any City Officials?

Nothing. I will publish any response I get here, but if they respond, hopefully it won't be to me, but to the users of this site on this particular issue.

No response, nothing, nothing. Obviously the city health dept. or any dept. responsible for these issues doesn't care. It seems to be a waste of time at this point. SCF is not working.

Call the mayor's office 203 946-8200

If you don't have a specific incident to report, there is no use calling. The Police themselves told me this. If the city doesn't monitor this site and investigate the issues people report, and adress them, then the city is wanting, and our tax dollars are not working.
I have provided a lot of proof that this business is misrepresenting its true function and is in violation of city ordinances. The city apparently doesn't care about public health issues like this.

Keep calling the alder Jody Ortiz
Ward17@newhavenct.gov
60 Soundview Terrace 06512-4741 203-676-0452 You can block your name and number from her called ID if you dial *67 then the number, this will work on most number but not 911 and most 800 type numbers

Thanks - I know Jody well, and she was at the ESMT meeting where I brought up this issue. Apparently, providing evidence that something is very wrong is not enough. You actually have to go there yourself and document things, and make a formal complaint - I'm not going to do that/ I went once years ago, that was enough. I'm tired of this issue, because the city does not read or respond to this platform, as far as I can tell.

Some departments like the police for the most part do not monitor this site

This issue will stay open until we hear something - anything - from the City health dept. and whoever inspects "adult entertainment" venues for health and safety, compliance with ordinances, violations of of the actual practices of the establishment in contraindication of the business license, and so on.

LCI, Health Dept. - where are you? Obviously not monitoring any of this. The place continues to provide a venue for sexual activity, as reported at length and documented above. In addition, it is derelict on the outside, with giant weeds, a broken fence, an abandoned "security" booth, never manned at night for the parking lot, and in general is an eyesore. Shame on the city for ignoring this reporting.

This post goes back over 3 years and the city has yet to respond, See Click Fix can't make the city read or give feedback. You will be better off calling the alderperson and the police district manager. You can block your number by dialing *67 then the number. This will not work with 911 and 800 type numbers
This is a new police district manage,r maybe he will get something done

Ms. Bond, head of City health dept., where are you? I guess you never read these.

There is a good chance she doesn't or anyone else from city, there has been no response to these posts. This is why you have call. Try the mayor's office 203 946-8200. You can block your number by dialing *67 then the number. This works with most numbers but not with 800 type numbers and 911

SCF is broken and worthless for this issue

Is SCF broken? It seems to be working fine for me. You might want to check your device to see if there are any issues.

Tommy, I mean broken in the sense that no-one from the City Health Dept. has directly addressed this issue on this public forum in any decisive way since it was opened.

Hello Sam,

It breaks my heart to give you this news. Here's some information that might be useful. This reported issue is more than 3 years old, but its status is still only "Open".

Usually, our city's officials change the status from "Open" to "Acknowledged" within a few days from its reported date.

Do you understand this posted comment?

Yes, I understand. That's why I said SCF is "broken" - at least for some issues.

Apparently, you have to wait for there to be an incident of some kind for the city health dept. to get involved and do an inspection. As for surprise inspections, i doubt they even do them.

It will be a great day when this place closes but your posting here is not going to do it.
. You will be better off calling the alderperson and the police district manager. You can block your number by dialing *67 then the number. This will not work with 911 and 800 type numbers
There is a new police district manager, maybe he will get something done. You can even call the mayors office 203 946-8200. Call these people at least once a week

City Health, Public Health, anyone - can you report on any "inspections" you may have done? Or tell us where to get such a report.

The city is doing nothing about this issue. Public health and safety violations of establishments of "adult entertainment" are not on their radar. The spread of AIDS, hepatitis, syphilis, and other STD's is apparently ok in New Haven.