The Coaster
Thursday, February 2, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The Coaster
No Result
View All Result
Home Ocean Grove

QSpot Files Lawsuit Against Arts Center

by The Coaster Editorial Staff
November 30, 2016
in Ocean Grove
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare via EmailShare on Twitter

 

qspot10By DON STINE

QSpot Center, based in Ocean Grove, has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Jersey Shore Arts Center in an effort to stop the scheduled eviction by the end of this year.
“I have been shocked and I think everyone in the community was shocked over this,” QSpot Executive Director John Mikytuck said earlier this week.
The Jersey Shore Arts Center, located at the entrance of Ocean Grove, informed QSpot several months ago that their lease would not be renewed at the end of the year, citing the agency’s lack of “arts and education” programming.
QSpot, a gay-based center tenant since 2012, argues that it does have a large arts and education component and is the creator and producer of QFest, New Jersey’s only LGBT film festival and recipient of a 2016 Monmouth Arts Council Grant. Additional QSpot arts programming includes live performances by artists such as Emmy-winning actor Leslie Jordan, America’s Got Talent contestant Julia Scotti, and film/television director Del Shores.
JSAC Executive Director Herb Herbst said previously that the decision is based on QSpots lack of arts and education goals. He said QSpot is not being specifically targeted.
Herbst declined to comment on the lawsuit and referred any questions to the center’s attorney Richard Weber, of Neptune.
“We will defend the center’s right all the way into the courts,” Weber said when contacted by The Coaster. “We are going to argue our case.”
Weber said that the allegations that the lease is not being renewed based on the QSpot’s purpose is not valid.
“The center knew this was a gay-based organization when is signed the lease to begin with so why, all of a sudden, are we prejudiced?” he asked.
Weber said that all leases at the center are on a year-to-year basis and that the center even evicted a church under the same premises.
“These leases are never permanent. They are all on a year-to-year basis – we do not give multi-year leases,” he said.
Weber said there is a reverted clause on the center’s charter stating that the center can only be used for education and the arts.
“A dance studio obviously meets that requirement but a social organization like this does not. This is why we even had a church leave; it is not part of what is allowed,” he said.
He said no court date has been set on the lawsuit.
However, QSpot is asking the court grant a preliminary injunction to prevent the eviction pending further proceedings on its discrimination claim. The suit also seeks compensatory and punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation.
On Nov. 21, QSpot filed a discrimination lawsuit against the JSAC in Superior Court of New Jersey. The suit alleges that Herbst acted out of bias towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community when he chose not to renew QSpot’s lease.
“Herbst’s actions are a violation of New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (LAD), which protects tenants against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity,” a recent QSpot press release said.
“Over the past six months, QSpot has taken every reasonable step to encourage the Jersey Shore Arts Center to reconsider its decision not to renew our lease. At each point along the way, Herbst and JSAC’s leadership have absolutely refused to seriously discuss it. With no other options and little more than a month before eviction, QSpot has been forced to file a lawsuit to protect our home and defend our right to be in it,” Mikytuck said in the statement.
QSpot is represented by Michael Long and Steven Rosato, based in Roseland, with support from the Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest. It has also asked that the court hear the matter on an expedited basis.
Citing its entertainment and arts programming, QSpot is also home to the QSpot Marching Band, a film club, and a creative expressions group. Mikytuck said the organization’s educational programs also include a professional development center, monthly discussion groups, and an extensive library with free computer and WiFi access. QSpot is also an official field placement site for Monmouth University students completing year-long academic internships for graduate and undergraduate degrees

Related Posts

Ocean Grove Group Hosting Winter Social

Ocean Grove Group Hosting Winter Social

January 30, 2023
Ocean Grove Ladies Auxiliary Raised $58,000 for Projects

Pilot Parking Program is Topic Of Special Meeting in Ocean Grove

January 25, 2023
Festive Events at Jersey Shore Arts Center

Festive Events at Jersey Shore Arts Center

December 6, 2022
Holiday Art Market

Holiday Art Market

November 29, 2022
Panel Says No to Ocean Grove Project

Panel Says No to Ocean Grove Project

November 8, 2022
Ocean Grove Pier Construction Continues as Scheduled

Violation Notices for Ocean Grove Pier Construction

October 12, 2022

Trending This Week

neptune police car

Neptune Police Make Burglary, Robbery Arrest

February 1, 2023
Developer ‘Cares Deeply About Boardwalk’ As Iconic Asbury Park Buildings Deteriorate

Developer ‘Cares Deeply About Boardwalk’ As Iconic Asbury Park Buildings Deteriorate

January 25, 2023

St. Patrick’s Day Committee Names Sammy Boyd Grand Marshal

January 30, 2023
Husband Indicted for Killing Wife, Leaving Body on Roadside in Ocean

Husband Indicted for Killing Wife, Leaving Body on Roadside in Ocean

January 31, 2023

Advertise Online with The Coaster

Advertise on The Coaster to reach countless new customers for your local business.

START ADVERTISING TODAY

E-mail Newsletter

Sign up to get a free weekly newsletter to your inbox.

Subscribe

Contact Us

The Coaster
1011 Main St
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Phone: 732-775-3010
FAX: 732-775-8345
editor@thecoaster.net

Email Newsletter »

All Articles

Search Our Site

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved.