A group of concertgoers are asking for immediate safety improvements in the area outside The Brooklyn Mirage after two men were found dead nearby and another person was allegedly kidnapped after getting into a taxi outside the venue.
The three incidents — which occurred over a six-week period in June and July — spurred patrons to wage a letter-writing and online campaign, asking for local officials and the venue itself to support better lighting, improved wireless service and a crackdown on unlicensed taxis outside the East Williamsburg concert space. The venue has come under state regulators’ scrutiny in the past for extensive, documented drug use inside the venue and three overdose deaths.
“I don’t have the exact remedy, but I think what community folks are asking for is going to require probably more investment from their part,” said City Councilmember Jennifer Gutiérrez, who represents the area.
Neither the venue’s owners nor City Hall have indicated whether any improvements will be made.
The Mirage is the centerpiece of Avant Gardner, a 80,000-square-foot, multi-venue event complex that spans an entire city block. Avant Gardner’s management released two brief, unsigned statements following the deaths of Karl Clemente and John Castic, both of whom disappeared while leaving separate shows at the Mirage.
“Avant Gardner is in communication with the authorities and is assisting with the investigation,” one of the statements reads. “We take the safety of our patrons extremely seriously. Our thoughts are with the family and friends during this difficult time.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ office referred comment to the NYPD, which said investigations into Castic and Clemente’s deaths “remain ongoing.”
A history of turmoil
Collectively, the Avant Gardner complex is one of the largest music venues in the city, with a total capacity of about 6,000 people. It is known for hosting some of the biggest names in electronic music, as well as for…
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