This comes from our partner at Fremont Universe:
Mayor Mike McGinn last night revealed a “Seattle Nightlife Initiative” that includes eight major points:
- Code compliance enforcement
- Flexible liquor service hours
- Noise ordinance enforcement
- Security training requirements
- Precinct community outreach
- Professional development
- Late-night transportation alternatives
- Targeting public nuisances
The Hudson New American Public House, one of several neighborhood establishments that could be affected by the mayor’s proposal.
Of these priorities, the “flexible hours” may be the most dramatic, with bars being able to stay open later than 2 a.m., with the argument that the present system “which by unintended consequence encourages overindulgence while simultaneously pushing thousands of patrons on the streets with limited resources to effectively manage the activity.” In other words, too many inebriated people at one time overwhelm law enforcement, alternative and public transportation, drive home drunk causing accidents, etc.
You can read more about it in the Seattle Times, and you can comment directly on a survey the city has put out seeking feedback about it. Or, please comment here!
I totally support the later closing times and having more late night bus runs, although I’m not sure the latter is financially feasible. I’m not sure I like the part of giving police more tools to arbitrarily ticket and arrest people, I’m hoping those will be clear cut guidelines. I would have thought fighting, disturbing the peace and public drunkenness were already ticketable offenses.
I actually don’t understand why there is a 2am last call in the first place. What difference does it make having last call at 2am or 4am, or not at all? Either the trouble makers leave the bars at 2am or at 4am-so why the closing time? I suppose the hypercontrol Washingtonians exert over alcohol is a relic of the Temperance and Prohibition movements (Washington went dry before the rest of the country did, actually), but it’s high time we got past that, particularly since the state will probably legalize pot in the next 5-10 years. Anyway, I think the flexible closing times is a great idea.
Without seeing the details related to funding, specifics on what kind of training will actually be done, I can’t say I support all elements, but I will say that I actually like the idea of staying open later. It’s time for us to grow up like the rest of world that doesn’t care if their people party until 5am. Also, I agree that having all the bars close at the same time in high density areas like Belltown and Pioneer square creates a undesirable situation and chances of that many people all staying out much later and leaving at the same time is much lower.
That being said, I am skeptical until I can read through all the details because I don’t trust a word that comes out of McGinn’s mouth. The really story will be on paper and we know how politicians like to slide in riders and unrelated crap to try and squeeze it through under the radar.