kyrillos: hearing needed on fate of arts center

Urges Legislative Oversight Committee to conduct hearing between Turnpike Authority, Live Nation

State Senator Joseph Kyrillos today issued the following press release after calling on Senator Paul Sarlo, chairman of the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee, requesting he reconvene the committee and hold a hearing with officials from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, Live Nation, State Police, community and local officials, including Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, to address the recent issues at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.

"We have a real problem with the current climate at the event arena and it is time that we sit down with officials from the Turnpike Authority, Live Nation, State Police, and community and local officials to discuss what can be done to rectify this situation and restore the image of the PNC Bank Arts Center as a family entertainment venue," said Senator Kyrillos.   There are a multitude of issues with the arts center including event offerings and the most prevalent concern is teenagers coming and using the venue as a place to drink.

Underage drinking has escalated at the venue from the very first concert of the season where 15 children, some as young as 11 years old, were rushed to area hospitals due to alcohol-related illnesses. Present day there have been almost 500 arrests total and 2 deaths. The initial incident should have been a wake up call to our youth, but instead the problem has only spiraled out of control. 

"The current state of the PNC Bank Arts Center is completely unacceptable," concluded Kyrillos. "It is imperative that this committee hold a hearing with the proper officials to discuss what changes can be made to restore the image of the arts center and schedule a lineup that will provide entertainment options for all New Jerseyans."

The Legislative Oversight Committee is chaired by Senator Paul Sarlo and is concerned with legislative review and executive branch oversight.

A copy of the letter is attached. 

-30-

August 22, 2007 

The Honorable Paul A. Sarlo

Chairman, Legislative Oversight Committee2

07 Hackensack St.2nd Floor

Wood-Ridge, NJ 07075 

Re: The PNC Bank Arts Center 

Dear Senator Sarlo,            

I am writing today to ask you to reconvene the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee and hold a hearing regarding the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.  

There is real problem with the current climate at the event arena and it is time that the committee sits down with officials from the Turnpike Authority, Live Nation, State Police, and community and local officials to discuss what can be done to rectify this situation and restore the image of the arts center as a family entertainment venue. 

While there are a multitude of issues with the PNC Bank Arts Center, including event offerings, the most prevalent concern right now is that teenagers come to the venue to drink.  

Underage drinking has escalated at the venue from the very first concert of the season where 15 children, some as young as 11 years old, were rushed to area hospitals due to alcohol-related illnesses. Present day there have been almost 500 arrests total and 2 deaths.The initial incident should have been a wake up call to our youth, but instead the problem has only spiraled out of control. 

The current state of the PNC Bank Arts Center is completely unacceptable. It is imperative that the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee hold a hearing with the proper officials to discuss what changes can be made to restore the image of the arts center and schedule a lineup that will provide entertainment options for all New Jerseyans. 

Thank you in advance for your kind consideration of this request.                                                      Sincerely,                                         

                                                                  Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos, Jr.

JMK: caf