Supporting the City That Never Sleeps

The old expression that you can't fight City Hall has rung true year after year as overregulation and constant harassment has caused New York nightlife indescribable harm. With the awful economic climate, there has been a resurgence of creativity and passion in the scene, and the suits who ran things for the last seven or so years have, in many cases, taken on dynamic partners to adjust to the post-bottle service era. Many bottle-era mainstays are circling their wagons and protecting their models and big spenders in smaller, more intimate settings. Marquee, after a long glorious run is opening Avenue to better service its clientele, which at this point need a change of scenery. On the other side, Matt Levine is expanding his base at The Eldridge and giving the larger and possibly more problematic Thor space at the Rivington Hotel a go. While nightlife has adjusted to the times and may indeed be more fun than anytime in the last ten years, there are gloomy clouds forming just out of sight of many, but in the sharp focus of a dedicated few.

The New York Nightlife Association (NYNA) has been fighting the good fight trying to protect the rights of club owners and clubgoers for over a dozen years. The strange thing about the Democratic sweep into power—which is a good thing in my opinion—is that without opposition from the Republicans, bills can be passed really quickly in Albany, often without consideration of impact. Special interest groups and community boards are always pushing agendas like 2am liquor licenses and severe penalties for minor or impossible-to-prevent violations. In this climate lurks an unprecedented threat to nightlife.

A sub-committee of the NYNA has been formed—not to fight City Hall, but to partner up with it in a bold attempt to create jobs, generate tax revenues, and attract tourism. The Nightlife Preservation Community (NPC) is dedicated to defending and preserving the nightlife industry. The ultimate goal of the committee is nothing short of a Vegas “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas” type partnership. The change from that wormy old “Big Apple” motto to “The City That Never Sleeps” will focus on bringing tourist dollars seeking alternatives to the expensive and increasingly problematical foreign vacation. Foreign tourists will see New York as a fun and affordable choice. New York City offers it all, and tourism means jobs and revenues which easily translate into schools and better roads. Recognizing that club promotional entities have well over a million names in their email, text messaging, and Facebook databanks, the NPC will broadcast information about candidates for public office that support a vibrant nightlife. The primaries are the focus of this campaign, as a very small amount of votes can swing the election of friendly candidates. Clubs will use their considerable marketing abilities to educate voters. This “move on” approach, which worked so well for Barack Obama, will define the nightlife industry as a force that is united and not so easily ignored. A website will be created, and a cooperative effort with the police department and community groups will distribute information at an astounding speed. Alerts about how to protect yourself from pickpockets, date-rape drugs, and driving while under the influence will be regularly sent to the listed and specifically targeted nightlife patron. The NPC will not be fighting City Hall but teaming up with those interested in not only preserving nightlife but also the meaning and the very soul of the City That Never Sleeps.

On Monday, June 22, a launch party will be held at M2 (a.k.a. Mansion); the invitation-only event will be open to owners and staff of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Years ago, with Michael Bladder, Kevin Berg, and John Deitlebaum, I created the Bartenders Ball. Grace Jones was our headlining act, and in years to come we had Debbie Harry, James Brown, The B52’s, Lenny Kravitz, and many others perform. This kind of industry-unifying event has great appeal to me, and the potential of the NPC is enormous. Make no mistake about this—the enemies of nightlife are organized and persistent. Nightlife must use all the considerable tools at its disposal to ensure that a 2am license and other crippling legislations are not passed. Nightclubs hosted more people last year than the Mets, Yankees, Jets, Giants, Knicks, Rangers, Broadway shows, and museums combined. The statistics on the impact of nightlife on the financial, job, and tourism bottom line show the importance of a cooperative effort between our industry, City Hall, and Albany.

I ask my readers to help launch this event correctly. Club owners and workers are asked to contact their connections to help make this event fantastic. Ask your celebrity friends and music industry pals to volunteer, show up, perform, and endorse this gala, which I believe can preserve and shape New York Nightlife’s future. The threat is very real. And so is the opportunity.