Granted it is a wee bit counter-intuitive -- but if Paul Krugman can insist we spend our way out of a recession, anything's possible.
If your problem is...
...the perennial problem of crowd control on the South Side, where dozens of bars and nightclubs share the same 2 a.m. closing time. Thousands of people spill onto the streets, where police say their loitering leads to countless other problems, from brawls and shootings to loud noise and public urination. Cars cruise outside the nightclubs and make East Carson Street, at times, almost impenetrable. (P-G, Sadie Gurman)
Then by all means...
Seems there is an obvious solution. Let the bars stay open as long as they like. Have the state law changed. (FB, Bill Helwig)
Talk about a Win-Win, Win-Win-Win. We can lobby this. Tie it to liquor-license density or what have you; possibly nobody will challenge it. Better yet, to Cities of the Second Class. There's your idea, Mr. Bloomberg, credit Bill Helwig.
This is precisely the solution adopted in Edinburgh about ten or so years ago. There was always a problem of binge drinking at closing time, so the obvious way to deal with it is ... do away with closing time. Edinburgh now has a reputation as "party town" in Scotland, whereas previously it was stuffy old "banking town".
ReplyDeleteAnd OF COURSE you can spend your way out of a recession! What other way is there?
Export-driven growth.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteFine, but that doesn't refute the possibility of increased spending as a means of stimulating the economy.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't refute that at all. I find so little use for what I recall of macro econ that I do stuff like that at the slightest provocation.
ReplyDeleteRegarding exports, who are we going to export to? Europe is in the dumper, China and India export to us. We cannot all export (net) to each other!
ReplyDeleteI hit on the basic plan. Someone else can do the details.
ReplyDelete"I hit on the basic plan. Someone else can do the details".
ReplyDeleteSounds like the work of a city council member/worker.
Keeping the bars open until 3 or 4am will only push the riff raff later into the night. Lets not forget that Zen had a 3:30am closing time but still managed to get itself closed but for a different reason.
When bars have, oh I dont know, 50 cent drink specials or something, you most definitely expect riff raff to roll in and stir up trouble (fights, shootings).
My solution--start to move patrons to other parts of the city and even the suburbs, such as Shadyside, Lawrenceville, Mt Lebanon or even Robinson. Bars in these locations are not high end but are def not trash like most of the Southside.
PS, I assume MH is Matt Hogue? Not to start anything but I do not believe you should be commenting on blogs about the city and how and what to do to improve it, esp after the major stunt you pulled a month ago.
Our longtime commenter MH is NOT Matt Hogue. Though he should probably think about getting some new initials.
ReplyDeleteI've had the initials for many years longer than Matt has had them.
ReplyDeleteI will take you at your word Bram and I do apologize to you Mr. MH lol
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe my eyes this weekend--driving down Carson Street from Becks Run Road, way down near the Steelers practice field, there's one of those blue "adopt-a-highway litter control" signs. Guess who the sponsor is? Matt Hogue! It looked legit. Can anyone shed light? I guess the joke would be that he'll be picking up the roadside trash after his chainsaw-gate conviction.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone confirm the info at 2:03? It doesn't sound super legit.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid of really drunk 22 year olds, so I never go there. I drink in Squirrel Hill for a saner crowd.
ReplyDelete