Ideas for Seattle

The reasoning: Putting the 100% of the burden on individual bars and clubs, to manage the behavior of bar-hopping patrons, inside and out of their establishments is not exactly realistic or fair. Existing bars and clubs have applied for, and have been granted licenses to operate their businesses in certain areas. If overtime, areas become increasingly residential or popular nightlife destinations, it is unreasonable to go back to these individual businesses and blame them for a problem that is in part due to their success, but more importantly, a break down in regulation. This is unheard of in any other industry—even Seahawks fans are responsible for their own behavior once they hit the streets after a big win—and the police are there to keep the peace. For some reason, nightlife is considered differently—even though it is one of the oldest and largest industries in Seattle.

The idea: Creating a Business Improvement Area (BIA) for nightlife businesses in nightlife neighborhoods would be a legal and prudent solution to much of the frustration neighborhoods like Belltown are experiencing today. Seattle and other cities have used the model of the Business Improvement Area in order to assist cash-strapped municipalities deliver services such as public safety and sanitation—two of the biggest issues surrounding nightlife. The creation of a Nightlife Business Area (NBA) would achieve many of the same objectives and address some of the impacts felt in communities that have a healthy nightlife.

How it would work: The NBA would essentially operate as a voluntary association of businesses that would agree to tax themselves in order to pay for the higher level of services that nightlife areas need, but (in this economy) city government is unable to provide. The NBA would hire and pay for City-trained private security or off-duty police officers to patrol nightlife areas like Belltown and Pioneer Square. The NBA, in conjunction with other initiatives like a staggered last call, better building codes, and late night transportation would seriously address the public safety and noise pollution problems that result from public intoxication and the honking of cars. Through the NBA, nightlife businesses would also hire additional sanitation services to effectively address the impact of increased litter around bars and clubs.

The NBA could also act as a liaison between the nightlife community and local government—advocating for innovative solutions and coordinating the various agencies through the process of implementation. The NBA could also assist businesses through the licensing and renewal process and go a long way towards easing the tensions between communities, nightlife businesses and the City, while giving nightlife entrepreneurs a formal role in the process and addressing the problems often associated with a vibrant nightlife.

Most importantly, the NBA has the possibility of serving as a “good neighbor” association, for which there would be self-imposed standards of operation for member establishments. Neighbors and patrons could then choose to frequent bars that promote responsible nightlife.