What would you have?

This blog is ultimately a forum of written spaces to encourage thoughts and judgements about the precinct called Kings Cross.

Hopefully there has been enough critical appraisal, personal statements and theoretical issues to wade through and contribute the forming of your personal opinion on the potential for change in Kings Cross.

The first result for the Google Image Search of Kings Cross. NB: The paddy wagon, the strip, the McDonalds. Institutional versus Cultural change.

Like all ‘problem’ or issue bedded areas across the globe that have a somewhat infamous tag, nickname or stigma, the Cross, for Sydney will no doubt carry its share of the burden and yet for that, we respect it. We respect its publicity, its opening hours, its strip. We are bombarded by the folklore around its criminality, its serious hotbed for violence, the alcohol fueled violence and drug use it incites, the state governments posterboy for political action, and interests groups from all social spectrums lobbying for something. I would really like to say ‘change’ however I use it in a very specific mode – calling for change and the potential of cultural and social shifts in planning and attitudes towards Kings Cross. Unfortunately, ‘change’ is usurped by the large interests groups of owners, clubs and other fiscal stakeholders, where ‘change’ presents a larger slice of the late night dollar and encroachments on what constitutes a ‘night out’.

I can’t argue with the place, but I can argue for the place, for the potential it possess and the iconography it so propagates.

Just because we respect it, doesn’t mean we have to like it.

 

When you’re out, you’re out: ID Scanners for Pubs and Clubs

While trawling through my morning radio and being brainwashed with reports of Islamic violence and protests within Sydney, my ears perked at the mention of Kings Cross. All pubs and clubs within the Kings Cross area are under mandatory instructions to install ID scanners by mid next year in a bid to ensure that patrons of the area are better regulated and issues of alcohol fuelled violence can be isolated and offenders removed almost instantly.

This idea is being enforced to reduce the number of trouble makers going from venue to venue, as well as to restrict all access to ‘thugs’ who have had prior issues to the Kings Cross area including prior assault charges.

Barry O’Farrell hopes that the scanners will send a message to all troublemakers within the area that, “when you’re out, you’re out!”

Police will have access to the scanners information and this will apparently help to identify people who are adding to the bad reputation of the area.

“It also means, when a drunk or violent person is kicked out of a venue, they can’t just go next door and wreak havoc there.” O’Farrell is sure that this idea is on the road to cleaning up the notoriously violent Kings Cross strip.

But it doesn’t just stop there…

The premier is announcing tough new laws to hit the strip. It seems enough is enough.

Shots after midnight on weekends and a limit of 4 drinks per customer will be introduced, as well as banning the sale of alcohol an hour before a venue shuts its doors. Glasses, glass bottles and glass jugs after midnight are also facing a ban and marshals after 11pm on Friday and Saturday nights to patrol clubs and pubs will be introduced.

BUT WAIT, it doesn’t stop there. The clean up Kings Cross movement today will announce new laws to allow for individuals to be banned from all licensed venues for a night or even for a longer duration.

After taking all of this in you start to feel a little overwhelmed. I had to take a break to absorb all of the information and now, after my initial ‘Go Barry!’ reaction, I’m starting to feel a little wrapped up in cotton wool.

Do you think that our government is taking it all too far? Or is it a long overdue solution for a troubling issue?