Homeowners near Forest Hills Stadium sue NYPD, says people 'physically invade' their streets

"A group of homeowners near the Forest Hills Stadium in Queens is suing the city, alleging it illegally takes over their private streets to facilitate concerts at the venue, where nearby residents have complained for years about excessive noise and disruptions."

"In a lawsuit filed in federal court Monday, the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation said the NYPD erects barricades, closes the streets to vehicles and directs thousands of people to "physically invade" the homeowners association's property on their way to the concerts without approval to do so."

""At this point, the concert promoter is earning millions and millions from these concerts, but the people who live in Forest Hills Gardens, who are really bearing the brunt of these events on a day-to-day basis, have received nothing," said Katie Rosenfeld, an attorney representing the Forest Hills Garden Corporation."

Homeowners near Forest Hills Stadium filed a federal lawsuit claiming the NYPD and city effectively seize private streets to facilitate stadium concerts. The Forest Hills Gardens Corporation alleges officers erect barricades, close streets, and funnel thousands through association property without approval, violating the Fifth Amendment's protections against state seizure without due process and compensation. The association stopped issuing licenses to the stadium operator in 2023 after years of loud, disruptive events. The NYPD countered that officers do not use the private streets except in emergencies and instead patrol public streets and manage crowd control around events. Noise complaints have persisted for years.

Read at Gothamist