Sin Taxes, Playing Together and Notorious Crimes

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