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By Gamal Hennessy
We go out to have a good time. We want to forget the recession, the housing slump, the credit crisis and the soft job market. We want to drink, dance and seduce each other for a few hours before reality sets in again. The last thing we need is for thieves, pickpockets and scam artists to invade our refuge and make us even poorer than we were before by stealing our wallets, clothing or purses. But that’s what’s happening and this is what people are trying to do about it.
The NYPD recently approached the New York Nightlife Association with an educational campaign to help patrons guard against petty crime in the clubs. While most of the advice is common sense and straight forward, a little prevention can go a long way. Patrons are in a vulnerable spot. They are often intoxicated, literally in the dark and focused on everything except their personal belongings. Operators can only watch and do so much (like coat check or to a certain extent security guards) to prevent theft. This gives predators space to operate. Ultimately, we are responsible for our own stuff, but the NYPD flyers can make us a little more vigilant on the dance floor.
The underlying dynamic to this situation is threefold. First, there is a historical tendency for different types of crime in nightlife to rise in a down market. The city is trying to reverse that trend in an attempt to maintain its reputation as a safe city for tourism. Second, nightlife itself doesn’t need the negative publicity of higher crime in a time when patron spending is already down. Any steps taken to make the public feel safer are helpful for the bottom line. Finally this gesture between the police and nightlife comes at a time when relations have been slightly strained. The safety flyers might not settle the allegations of phony drugs busts and potential law suits but like the crisis in the Middle East, any steps toward reconciliation have to be taken with cautious optimism. If the NYPD and the NYNA continue to focus on the well being of patrons instead of attacking each other, then thieves and scam artists will have less room to maneuver and we can escape in relative peace.
Have fun.
G
What’s your opinion? We’d like to know.
Nightlife News for January 21st, 2009
By Gamal Hennessy
Time for a New Sin Tax
David Kesmodel of the Wall Street Journal reported on the growing trend of lawmakers across the country to increase taxes on liquor to lower state budget deficits. While sin taxes have been used in the past for governments to get through lean economic times, New York might want to couple that tax increase with an increase in liquor licenses so that more jobs and more taxes are created at the same time.
Playing Well Together
Heather Murray of Chelsea Now found a positive story in the residents vs. nightlife situation. Cafeteria in Chelsea has been working with neighbors to install sound proof windows, police the area around the building for noise and amateur behavior and early waste removal. The situation offers good ideas to operators trying to peacefully coexist with people living near their venues.
Notorious Crimes Taint Movie Opening
The Gothamist reported that four people were stabbed at a party thrown to celebrate the hip hop film Notorious. In a separate incident, the Times reported that a teenage girl was shot and killed at a teen only party in the same weekend. If the film was supposed to be a cautionary tale about the connection between hip hop, crime and violence the message didn’t get through to every one.
What do you think? Should we support more liquor taxes? What else can venues do to work with communities? What will it take to separate hip hop from violence? Add a comment and let us know.
Have fun.
Gamal
Nightlife News for January 13th, 2009
By Gamal Hennessy
Is Squadron in a position to carry out his plans?
Roy Edroso of the Village Voice reports that new Democratic State Senator Daniel Squadron has been chosen to head the cites committee of the New York State Senate. Given his anti-nightlife position during the election, the question is will the new position but Mr. Squadron is a position to carry out his Nightlife Control Plan?
Club security guard sentenced for kidnapping charge
Darryl Littlejohn got 25 years for stuffing Shanai Woodward into a van. He still claims he’s innocent and that his trial was unfair because his name was also linked to the Imette St. Guillen kidnapping, rape and murder. Newsday.com didn’t specify when the St. Guillen case will be tried, but Littlejohn will continue to be a bad example of security the industry will have to deal with
Does the SLA need more inspectors?
A TV station in New York might have found the reason why liquor licenses are so hard to get. According to a spokesman for the SLA, there are only 21 SLA examiners in the whole state, and they process over 6,500 applications per year. But if New York needs to create jobs in a recession, and liquor licenses can create more jobs, why not hire more inspectors?
Watch out for the DOH before you light up
Grub Street has confirmed that the Department of Health has been conducting more raids and handing out more fines for venues that violate the smoking ban. The raids might be in response to more venues turning a blind eye to smoking in 2008, so smoking might become a contentious nightlife issue again six years into the ban.
What do you think? Should we worry about Squadron? What will it take to get more SLA inspectors? Will the DOH crackdown lead to club closings? Add a comment and let us know.
Have fun.
Gamal
Nightlife News for January 5th, 2009
By Gamal Hennessy
Bottle Service isn’t dead. Or is it?
David Hauslaib asserts that the bottle service trend is alive and well, although his argument using the Eldridge is less than compelling. While Scott Solish of the New York Observer provides anecdotal evidence that that economic trend is suffering and may not come back.
If Your Bar Moves, Will You Move With It?
You’ve owned a spot for years. You have a good set of loyal regulars. The economy forces you to change locations in an attempt to save money. Will your loyal regulars be there for your grand re-opening? Glenn Collins of the New York Times isn’t so sure…
When Generosity is Clearly a Sin
Did you hear the one about the priest who holds down the VIP? Well, Sean Evans and Tracy Connor of the Daily News reported on Father Greg Malia living the high life in New York’s most expensive clubs. Unfortunately Fox News followed up that story with news that the church rewarded his nightlife attraction by firing him.
The Best of 2008
Good Night Mr. Lewis author Steven Lewis highlights his picks for best club, best DJ, best party, best blog and best trend in nightlife. Unfortunately New York Nights wasn’t picked for best blog, but we’re hoping to do better next year.
What do you think? Is bottle service on the way out? Will patrons follow a bar? What was your favorite spot of 2008? Add a comment and let us know.
Have fun.
Gamal
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