DIA wants to legalize sale, possession of alcohol along the riverwalk

[Ken_FSU]

Legitimately great idea here, assuming there's some element of security to make sure a few idiots don't ruin it for everyone else.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/oct/10/dia-wants-alcohol-sold-in-special-plastic-cups-legal-along-riverwalks/

[Charles Hunter]

Limiting consumption to Riverwalk-branded cups provides an opportunity for a revenue stream, perhaps for maintenance and security. According to the article, the special district would "allow patrons the opportunity to purchase alcoholic drinks at designated locations along the Riverwalks" - there could be an assessment per sale at those locations.

[acme54321]

I was a bit concerned but it sounds like the branded cups should alleviate most of the potential problems.

[marcuscnelson]

As I said before:

The Specialty Center (essentially an open container zone for drinks purchased from riverfront bars) is a fun idea, the Sip & Strolls seem like a success and more activity on a more regular basis will be great as the area fills with residents and visitors.

This is essentially taking an idea directly from Tampa, and there's nothing wrong with that because it works. Hopefully they figure out how to implement it quickly if it's approved, no reason to dilly dally.

[Jason]

Do this NOW!!!!  I wish St. Augustine would do this as well....

[JPalmer]

Time for the "Barge" concept...

[heights unknown]

I kind of disagree. Just more fuel for attacks, beatings, stabbings, and shootings = possible homicides; I hope and pray not (if it's approved), but don't forget what's happening at the football stadiums nationwide that still allow drinking while watching the games. I know, I know, there'll be security. There's security at those football games, and there was security at the Landing. If approved, I just hope it works safely for the public.

[Ken_FSU]

Sounds like, rather than private security like you'd see at special events or places like JWJ park, the DIA is expecting the JSO to police the beverage policy.

Boyer said that enforcement of the open container rules in the specialty center would be conducted by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

"It's no different than any other part of the city," Boyer said.

Love the idea, but with crime on the rise and police already stretched thin, not sure this is the best use of JSO's resources.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/oct/16/dia-committee-endorses-open-containers-on-riverwalks/

[Jax_Developer]

Sounds like, rather than private security like you'd see at special events or places like JWJ park, the DIA is expecting the JSO to police the beverage policy.

Boyer said that enforcement of the open container rules in the specialty center would be conducted by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

"It's no different than any other part of the city," Boyer said.

Love the idea, but with crime on the rise and police already stretched thin, not sure this is the best use of JSO's resources.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/oct/16/dia-committee-endorses-open-containers-on-riverwalks/

It's just too early for it, and if this goes bad... will make it that much harder when it does make sense. There needs to actually be a critical mass population near the riverwalk for this to really make sense. The crime will 100% trickle over here if there is a lack of vibrancy.

If there is legitimate sales revenue from the alc, then justifying police resources is much more reasonable.

[sandyshoes]

Surely someone else here remembers the River Rally - on the courtyard outside the Sheraton, every Friday after work - mid to late 1980s.  So why shouldn't we be able to enjoy adult libations on the river again? 

[Tacachale]

Surely someone else here remembers the River Rally - on the courtyard outside the Sheraton, every Friday after work - mid to late 1980s.  So why shouldn't we be able to enjoy adult libations on the river again?

^100%!

[thelakelander]

Love the idea, but with crime on the rise and police already stretched thin, not sure this is the best use of JSO's resources.

I'm also 100% sure that a certain demographic of the local population is going to get the short end of the stick and harassed.

Its very crazy how these things play out. I'm assisting with a complete streets planning project for Moncrief Road. While in the neighborhood showing a young engineer on how to measure the corridor to create accurate existing typical sections, I randomly asked her about observations of data she had analyzed (i.e. crash data, traffic counts and anything else relevant to the project).

She said the strangest thing she noticed was the high number of pedestrians in the neighborhood being stopped by JSO for jaywalking. She said its significantly higher than other areas of town where we've done similar projects. When you look around the corridor, despite being denser and more walkable with higher transit dependent population and gridded streets, marked crosswalks are nearly non-existent.

I told her that they are clearly using jaywalking as an easy way to stop and search people. That's racial profiling since it isn't something they equally enforce citywide (you can have a field day giving people jaywalking tickets in downtown for example).

In that neighborhood's case, I'm not going to do any marching, hollering about protests or claims about needs to defund the policy. I'm going to hit them over the head with public policy modifications and make sure that transportation project adds a damn crosswalk at nearly every block along the corridor, as a form of environmental justice resistance, traffic calming and pedestrian safety, which also extends to limiting opportunities of conflict and harassment between JSO and the residents.

[Ken_FSU]

I told her that they are clearly using jaywalking as an easy way to stop and search people. That's racial profiling since it isn't something they equally enforce citywide (you can have a field day giving people jaywalking tickets in downtown for example).

^For reference as a white dude, I've jaywalked six times a day, 250 days a year, for 6 years running, in downtown Jax.

Often times walking directly in front of a police car when multi-tasking on email.

No one's ever said a word to me.

By my math, that's nearly 10,000 jaywalks without as much as a cross look.