Captain Bringdown and the Buzzkills
Ok, finally a cause that could bring Natty Sci into the forefront of local politics: fucking around with our drinking habits. So I’m trying to gather as much info on this topic as possible - mostly because I’m bored. But that’s beside the point. Marc, any videos would obviously be cool. So here’s what I can find:
The Battle Over Baxter Avenue
The main CJ article from earlier this week for those who missed it.
Wet-Dry Vote and the ABC Laws
The break down: Two precincts, H132 and G103 (map) want to inact a wet-dry vote. From what I can tell, G103 and H132 make up basically a rectange starting in the north at Broadway, and goes south all the way to about about a block past the midcity mall. It's made up of the area between Barret and Baxter avenue. Some interesting details in this article about the ABC laws (for example, the Outlook Inn is the only "bar" on Baxter).
"There's No Way I Can Support a Wet-Dry Vote"
Lot's of stuff about Lynn's Paradise Cafe, but also some good stuff from the district alderman Tom Owens and the former Original Highlands Neighborhood Association President.
Baxter Avenue Paradox
Bob Hill's opinion piece on the issue. Kinda interesting stuff, not a lot of facts.
The Demands of the OHNA
It seems they want to prevent people from parking on the streets and in the school. So there would be effectively about 30 parking spots. But that won't matter because nobody is going to be heading down there anyways. Why? They want everything closed at midnight. Seven days a week. Some real wack job, reactionary stuff in here.
My take? It seems the only way that the bars can please these people into not shutting them down with a wet-dry vote is to enact rules that will prevent themselves from being profitable. End result? Those 9 bars will have to close down, and others will take their place. Leaving basically a black hole of shops that would be the main drag in between the Phoenix Hill area and the other side of Eastern Parkway. So on your basic Friday or Saturday night, instead of having slow traffic, lots of people on the street you are going to be having people moving through the area to get to another bar. Normally these people might just cross the street, but now they are taking the wheel of a car. Not good times. Of course, as Brock pointed out, this would only breed crime in the area. Abandoned buildings in between two night spots? Yeah, good call.
Most of the bars in that area are only 5 years old. We aren't talking about places that have long standing investments. I say the city calls their bluff, buys out the bars, and gives all the owners big time tax breaks to move shop into downtown. You want to revitalize downtown? Opening up 10 bars over a couple of city blocks would help out TREEEmendously.
Posted by Phil on May 22nd, in the afternoon |
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