Commentary – Charleston Entertainment Ordinance

So Charleston’s Mayor Riley and his motley crew have decided to draft a city ordinance that would require NEW bars and restaurants to close at midnight instead of 2am. Apparently Charleston City Council has already voted in favor of this idea 12-1.

This ordinance for New businesses include the areas of Market, King, Meeting, East Bay streets. Any existing businesses will be granfathered in, according to city officials.

Now let me be the first to say I don’t think this ordinance is fair for future business owners. How will they have a fair chance of succeeding when everyone knows Alcohol sales at existing bars and restaurants in this city is what keeps these businesses alive. From that perspective, I totally disagree with this ordinance.

HOWEVER, what surprises me most regarding this issue is the number of people “banning” together for this particular cause. Like really, people are actually on Facebook planning a serious Coup against the Mayor and city officials.

Man listen, we have a city filled with violent crime, our school system is teetering on the brink of failure, and people are fighting for jobs and pay raises. To see so many people ban together so that drunk College of Charleston kids and have 2 extra hours of drinking is confusing to me.

When the Mayor implemented Gentrification 2.0 on downtown Charleston, we didn’t hear anyone cry foul on how many families and communties were displaced. Now you all want to do a MLK march down King St?? man #ByeFelicia – When they vowed to put “AFFORDABLE HOUSING” in downtown Charleston, but instead what we see now is $300,000 condos, we heard a few murmurs, we had discussions on local radio, but still – no one cried. Now you all want to ban together for what now?? I’m confused.

I know, i know its a serious subject for business owners; FUTURE businesses will have some sort of limitation on their access to entry when it comes to the bar and restaurant opportunities in the downtown area. And lets face it, our mayor has a PERSONAL interest in this particular area since he is connected to many properties/hotels/land in Charleston. (This RULE does not apply to hotels – aint that a bitch), but what bothers me most is the stern reaction I see on Fakebook Facebook of people really preparing to go to county council, and ban together for this “cause”. These same people have kids – wonder how many PTA meetings they went to this past school year?

Listen, do what you want. Most people really could care less is people stay out until 6am; but the next time someone gets shot, I hope it draws as much attention as a couple hours of tom foolery on King Street.

Souce: ABC News 2