A Step Away from Skid Row Behavior Downtown

[downtownparks]

The generally poor social and physical condition of the Northbank of Downtown Jacksonville, Florida, can in great part be attributed to the illegal public consumption of alcoholic beverages on the streets and sidewalks at all hours of the day.  This ordinance will seek to reduce alcohol related crime and nuisance by prohibiting the sale for off premises consumption of all alcoholic beverages between the hours of 2 AM and 5 PM in the Northbank area.  This ordinance will not affect bars and restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages for on premises consumption. All beverage venders will be prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages “to go” between the hours of 2 AM and 5 PM. A two year review and sunset will be included in this ordinance.

[downtownparks]

Work with me here Jer. You are hanging your hat on the "to-go" wording. Does this, or does this not mean cases of beer as well as single? Will I be able to go to WinnDixie at noon on a Sunday and buy a 12 pack?

Why are you so against getting input from the people who live and work around downtown? Myself and others keep trying to tell you, go after singles, and you will have some support.

[jbm32206]

Moran is pushing for a law that would, between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5 p.m., ban stores downtown and in much of the surrounding area from selling people alcoholic beverages to drink off the premises. Moran has been working with City Councilman Don Redman's staff to craft such an ordinance, and he's been talking to merchants and other downtown and Springfield dwellers about the idea.

That's the most ridiculous solution...why should the decent people be punished for what the low-lifes are doing? That's just flat out wrong. As if restricting the sales would change anything, when we all know that it won't. Why not direct that effort into doing something about these people, instead of trying to impose restrictions on those of us who aren't lounging around, begging for money and making downtown look like a homeless camp?!

[jbm32206]

Work with me here Jer. You are hanging your hat on the "to-go" wording. Does this, or does this not mean cases of beer as well as single? Will I be able to go to WinnDixie at noon on a Sunday and buy a 12 pack?

Why are you so against getting input from the people who live and work around downtown? Myself and others keep trying to tell you, go after singles, and you will have some support.

That's more like it, and that's where the problem is...it's not the decent people who want to buy a six pack or something like that, who are causing the problem.

[Ocklawaha]

Does it seem to anyone, that if we can control a little of the public intoxication problem, by creating a partial ban on alcohol purchases, then we should be able to control all of the public intoxication, with a total ban!

Woman's Temperance Union and Carry A. Nation; saloon smasher and prohibitionist rides again in Jacksonville?!?

You might do well to remember that prior to prohibition, women drank very little. It was prohibition, the blooming of the speakeasy clubs, flappers, and the Jazz age, that brought about a huge surge in alcohol consumption. In other words, this was tried before and it had the opposite effect!

4:20 anyone? Yeah, you know...

Ocklawaha

[gatorback]

Is the converse of that true as well?   Public intoxication is a result of alcohol sales in the downtown area only between north of the St. Johns river and south of Laura street.  What if I buy and fly from the west sidee?  Or get my drink on at the airport and take the ghost bus downtown?  Are you saying you want public intoxication from purchases outside the downtown area.  I don't think that's go to sink...or swim.  Do you own package stores outside the downtown area?

[downtownparks]

Why make it a good ordinance that can have a positive impact over the entire urban core when you can make it a bad ordinance that will do nothing, and never pass?

[Jerry Moran]

After a year of consideration by the City's General Council, and then the Sheriff's Council, it has been determined that any ordinance enacted would have to include "all sales of alcoholic beverages".  This means that sales for on premises consumption would be prohibited as well as sales for off premises consumption.  That would affect on premises sales at downtown hotels, bars, and restaurants, which is counterproductive to downtown development, so the issue is dead.