I agree wholeheartedly with Rep. Kahn's assessment of the downtown Minneapolis bar closing situation. I have been downtown at 1:00AM Sunday morning and what I saw were large groups of belligerent young men loaded with testosterone and liquor and looking for trouble. The police really had their hands full just keeping the groups moving along so that everyone would not gather on the same street corner. I avoid downtown on Saturday evenings. Hennepin and Lake is as far as I go.
Bill Dooley Kenny -----Original Message----- From: Phyllis Kahn [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 2:34 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] With the regrets we all have for the death of a young man...and whatever mistake he made or whateve With the regrets we all have for the death of a young man...and whatever mistake he made or whatever he did wrong, he did not deserve to die for it; one aspect of the situation needs further attention. The police are quoted as saying that "the downtown area was out of control" and "several fights broke out between 1 and 2 a.m....but that is not uncommon after bar closing time". (STrib, 9/4). I have long urged a later bar closing time. It is only too obvious that dumping all patrons out on the street at 1:00 is a bad scene, for both drivers and pedestrians. Cities with later or no closing times do not have these problems. People trickle out as they get tired (or too drunk) and have far fewer confrontations. I have tried to change the state law and will continue to try. (I urge those who agree to contact their legislator and the gubernatorial candidates). However the Mpls city council could, all by itself change the closing hours, so that bars who wanted to let patrons nurse a drink or eat or listen to music and not rush out could mellow out for a while. The state law only covers sales after 1:00, the city ordinance covers closing. It's time Minneapolis grew up and became a serious (and safer) night city. Phyllis Kahn State Rep 59B _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
