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Rochester Nightclub Owner: "State Makes It Very Difficult to Stay Safe"

freeimages.com/Michael Chambers

 The owner of an LGBT-friendly bar in Rochester says she has been unable to hire security for her business and that has her concerned in the wake of Sunday's mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando, Florida.

Linda Boshnack, owner of 140 Alex Bar & Grill on Alexander Street, says her employees remain vigilant, but she has not been able to find a security company that will allow its employees to work for a bar.                 

"RPD (Rochester Police) said they're gonna beef up their patrols, but I'm not quite sure what that really is going to do. I don't want to take away from that; I appreciate that, but I'm not sure what that's going to do.  I don't think people, or whomever, is just going to come walking with a gun on the street so the police can stop them ahead of time."

New York State law does not allow bars and nightclubs to hire off-duty police officers. New York’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Law prohibits police from having any interest in the making or the sale of alcoholic beverages. 

“There are just so many restrictions and sort of gray areas and if you don't do it right, you're fined thousands of dollars, so they make it very difficult to make it safe," Boshnack said.  There have not been any major security problems at 140 Alex Bar & Grill, but she is concerned that her customers would not be adequately protected if an armed person entered the place.

Boshnack said she has spoken to Rochester police and the governor's office, but has not found a way to address the problem. 

Beth Adams joined WXXI as host of Morning Edition in 2012 after a more than two-decade radio career. She was the longtime host of the WHAM Morning News in Rochester. Her career also took her from radio stations in Elmira, New York, to Miami, Florida.