Does New York City have too many bars?

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - Neighborhood groups throughout New York City are banding together, fed up with the number of bars on their streets. These groups are calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to step in to help.

But the New York City Hospitality Alliance says the bars are playing by the rules.

"This is really less about liquor licenses and more about a small minority of people who've always been there and who always will be there," said Max Bookman, an attorney with NYC Hospitality Alliance. He added that these residents "want to make our city a city that does sleep when it's a city that doesn't sleep."

"We just want a balance between nightlife and other small businesses," said David Stuart, the 45th Street Block Association Chair.

The NYC Hospitality Alliance and block associations throughout the city are at odds with the number of establishments opening their doors and serving liquor.

David Stuart, the chair of the 45th Street Block Association, is asking Cuomo to step in to provide oversight on the State Liquor Authority so that it returns to what he said is the "original primary mission of upholding the health safety and welfare of the residents."

He said that too many bars attract rowdy crowds that destroy property and make the sidewalks a mess.

However, these bars do have oversight: the community must approve they move in.

"What the liquor authority does is they force new bars to come to an agreement with the local neighbors if they want to be deemed in the public interest," Bookman said.

So we hit the streets to see how some Hell's Kitchen residents feel about their noisy neighbors.

"New York is noisy. What are you going to do?" said one resident.

"New York is becoming less family-friendly," said another, who agrees there are too many bars.

"I think it brings foot traffic. It gives a good sense of community," said a neighbor. "I don't know that's a problem."

We reached out to the State Liquor Authority for comment but did not hear back.