Jacksonville Art Walk Alcohol Crackdown

When I first saw Downtown Jacksonville, I was on a 17 hour layover. Because of 9/11 I ended up taking a train in October 2001. The only thing with any vibrancy was the Jacksonville Landing, because there happened to be a Jags game. Store fronts were empty, buildings were dilapidated. Little did I know that three years later I would be moving to Jacksonville.

A lot has changed in Downtown since 2001, and many of those positive changes can be attributed to the monthly Art Walk. This block party/art festival has revitalized the Urban Core, rescuing some businesses on the skittery edge and making room for more. Since the Art Walk was first implemented we've seen Chamblin's Book Mine move in, as well as the oh-so-hip Chew and the edgy art-meets-food Burrito Gallery.

And what does the city do? They crack down on open container laws, imposing stiff fines on any business that allows people to leave a building with alcohol. So we have this very positive thing, something that helps businesses and creates a positive image of the city and the police decide that it's a priority to suck the fun out of it.

I mean what else could they be doing?

Our city has one of the highest murder rates in the country. We are known as the murder capital of Florida. How much of that violence has been connected to Art Walk? I only remember once that there was a fatality connected with Art Walk, and it was BEFORE Art Walk opened. The city had it cleaned up before the festivities began.

It's hard to understand why enforcing this law is good for the city. Part of the fun to Art Walk is grabbing a beer at a pub and walking around to all the unexpected art venues that are in everything from local gyms to bars to bookstores. Or you take your little cup of free wine around with you as you walk Downtown and when it's all over you head to Twisted Martini or London Bridge for a pint. While there was a crowd there tonight, strict enforcement of this law will almost certainly cause the crowd to dwindle.

A great nightlife isn't a priority of the city council. Recently, one of our city officials was quoted in the Folio as saying that people who wanted to go to a club could go to Orlando. But Art Walk isn't about late night binge drinking, it's about community spirit, art and getting just a little buzz on.

Enforcing this law is just bad for business. Entertainment plus a vibrant nightlife equals local commerce and money for our city and businesses. I think an exception should be made for a monthly event that helps make us a better city.