AN URGENT MESSAGE TO ALL NEW YORKERS:


DON'T TURN OUT THE LIGHTS IN NEW YORK CITY!


New York's Nightlife businesses employ over 19,000 New Yorkers and is an indispensable $10 billion a year 
economic engine for this city. The industry generates over $700 million a year in tax revenue alone! 

New York’s nightlife is a critical component of our city’s rich culture as well. Entire music forms started in our clubs 
as did dozens of famous performers. It is, in part, what makes our city such an international attraction. 

WHY, THEN, ARE SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS LOOKING TO TURN
THE LIGHTS OUT ON THIS IMPORTANT BUSINESS SECTOR?


While we all deplore the tragic instances of the past few months, we need to recognize just how isolated they are. 
65 million people enjoy New York's bars and clubs every year without incident. That is more than all Broadway theaters, all NYC sports teams and the Metropolitan Museum of Art combined! 

Regulatory and enforcement crackdowns, like the recently announced liquor license moratorium, are much too 
broad-brushed and unfairly target the vast majority of well run venues and not just the few bad ones. 

Why should a bar in the Theater District, Harlem or the West Side, with community support, be prevented from opening? 

Why should renowned cabarets like the Rainbow Room or BB King’s have to install expensive security equipment and check every 50 
year old’s ID? 

If this climate of crisis doesn't change we will begin to see the best and the brightest of our entrepreneurs and
young people looking for other places to work and live.


In fact, this unfortunate trend may have already begun. When a Four Star chef such as Daniel Boulud has an 
application for a liquor license denied by a community board, a clear message is sent to all: New York City is not 
open for hospitality business. 

Real issues such as the societal problem of underage drinking must be addressed by all of us-elected officials, college presidents, parents and neighbors. Club owners can't do it alone, especially when "guaranteed" fraudulent 
IDs are so readily available on the internet. Stricter enforcement and harsher penalties of the illegal sale and use 
of fake IDs is an essential first step. 

DO NOT TURN NEW YORK CITY 
INTO CLEVELAND ON THE HUDSON.


The nightlife industry is vital to our town and we need a spirit of 
www.nyna.org cooperation, not castigation, if we are to not only survive, but 
grow and prosper as well. 
RESTAURANT 
ASSOCIATION 
www.nysra.org