Letter to the editor: ‘She’s dreaming’

Clover Moore has blood on her hands (“Businesses urged to stay open later in the city”, Sydney City News, February 24).

And she’s dreaming if she thinks that more late-opening art galleries with “more options creates a safer …late night economy”. Her planning policies have approved over 250 DAs for pubs and clubs for new venues, extended hours and increased site densities. The result? More on-street crime: up to 80 per hour in one hour alone every weekend on Bayswater Road, King Cross, according to council’s own statistics.

There is no nexus between lager louts running wild  in our urban streets, mores cafés, and reduced crime. There is not one scintilla of evidence for Clover Moore’s dreamy thought bubble. In fact, with more people around at night there is an increased chance of assaults.

The Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation estimates the cost of alcohol abuse at $36 billion in August 2010, yet Clover Moore continues to allow licquor lords to rule this state. Pub owners are like Vikings: they come into an area, trash it, and leave with the loot.

True global cities like Paris require licquor licence renewals every six months. When will this city catch up and learn its OK to say ‘no’ to more mayhem?

Andrew Woodhouse

President
Potts Point and King Cross Heritage Conservation Society