The Golden Mile: are we attracted to the thug life?

We’ve all seen some, if not all of the Underbelly series which gave a glimpse into life in Kings Cross in the late 80’s to the late 90’s. We watched as big name gangsters came to life on the TV screen and we were transfixed by the drama that unfolded. But is all of this completely damaging the the Cross’s reputation. As we understand it, the media paints a rather tainted image of the cross and the drug and alcohol fuelled violence which occurs week in and week out, but is this constant media presence and the glorification of the gangster/thug life making it hard for the Cross to turn the long overdue corner?

Perhaps the media and the glamourous life of television is standing in the way of Kings Cross moving away from the thug lifestyle. After watching the video above I was blown away by the type of comments young YouTube users were posting and I couldn’t help but think that this television drama made the Cross appealing for all the wrong reasons and is the main standstill for change when it comes to cleaning up the streets of Kings Cross.

YouTube user comments on the Underbelly 3 fight scene with Danny

Are we enticing our youth into the Kings Cross strip with drugs and alcohol? ‘Monkey see as Monkey do’ – This is a continuous ripple effect throughout the generations and will continue to be a drug and alcohol hub unless we can change that train of thought. The above comments showcase that thug mentality – where the youth are in awe of gangsters and thugs thinking that they are ‘cool’ and that drinking and fighting in bars and clubs shows just how tough they really are. “Wata maad cunttt” – aside from grammar and spelling being uncool, it seems that our impressionable youth are more and more eager to jump on the alcohol and violence band wagon and run riot through Kings Cross. It’s time for change people!!! Let’s clean up Kings Cross.

La Ramblas, Barcelona and Kings Cross (Part Two)

After many long-winded conversations with friends about the places that should inspire change within Kings Cross I have come up with a list.

Below are the top 4 places that should enlist change within Kings Cross to diversify cultural activities and to reduce the risks of drug and alcohol fuelled violence within the area.

Number One:

Union Street, San Francisco!

Union Street, San Francisco

Union Street is notorious for its nightlife in San Francisco. It is not only  hot spot at night, but also during the day much unlike Kings Cross. The need for cultural diversity in terms of mixed-use neighborhoods is dire. Union Street features a large range of cafes, restaurants, street markets and shopping as well as night clubs and other nightlife venues – a must for Kings Cross to disperse the drunk and disorderly crowds.

Number Two:

Carnaby Street, Soho, London

Carnaby Street, London

The shopping hot spot for London has expanded into the ‘it’ place for drinks and dinner. Although the street itself is packed with shops and boutiques, there are a large amount of pubs, clubs and restaurants and bars that sit in the streets which run off the main drag. Carnaby Street has a large nightlife but the culture within the area is vastly different to the drinking culture within the Cross. Another example of how the strip can be changed due to infiltration of alternative activities into a binge-drinking hub.

Number Three:

La Ramblas, Barcelona

La Ramblas, Barcelona

As mentioned in my previous post, La Ramblas Barcelona is an all pedestrian area filled to the brim with nightlife, street markets, restaurants, shopping districts and masses of other activities. You’d think the council would get the picture by now? Kings Cross needs a change in lifestyle!

Number Four:

Manly Corso, Manly

Manly Corso, Manly

A local favourite. Not too few years ago the Corso encountered it’s problems. Manly, although similar to other examples of lively daytime activities, does present itself in a similar fashion to Kings Cross Nightlife. Recently an influx of small bars and restaurants have managed to keep the raucous activities of the drunk and disorderly to a minimum and assault and violent acts have drastically reduced due to this shift, as well as due to an increased police presence.

Should band-aid solutions be tossed out the door? We need to focus on long term solutions like a cultural shift and we need to start acting now! What are your thoughts?

La Ramblas, Barcelona and Kings Cross (Part One)

La Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain

Last night I went for dinner in Surry Hills (about 10 minutes from Kings Cross) and sat with a friend talking about what kind of changes need to happen in Kings Cross in order to diversify the area, reducing the risk of drug and alcohol fuelled violence.  We started talking about what kinds of places would have similar issues and what their solutions have been. One place in particular came to mind. La Ramblas, Barcelona in Spain.

So many similarities exist between to two, aside from the two both having large fountains used commonly for meeting points, the main similarity is that they are both central hubs for entertainment and nightlife.

Here at Bringing Potential to Kings Cross, we are trying to enlist a change of culture and attitude towards the Cross. Making it, ultimately, a safer place to travel to, but also creating a diverse range of public space so that travellers into the area are not simply doing so to annihilate themselves on the booze.

What does La Ramblas in Barcelona have to offer Kings Cross? It is exactly what is needed for the area: a range of cultural activities throughout the day and night that are not just for partygoers. La Ramblas is home to a vast range of activities such as live performance, human statue art, artists and caricaturists, market stalls and flower sellers as well as established attractions such as the Wax Museum, the Erotica Museum, the Modernist Boqueria Market and other monuments and attractions.

After a few trips down memory lane at dinner, I was keen to find out what kind of cultural experiences people have had in other areas around the world that could benefit the Cross on its way to becoming a hub for cultural diversity and known for its exciting lifestyle both night and day – not just for its drunk and violent nature.  So I’m off to talk to a few people and find out more inspirational places – leave a comment and let me know your experience.

Until part two…

Alcohol-fuelled violence on the decline

An interesting video on the statistics of drug related abuse vs. alcohol related abuse. A proposed solution by Bringing Potention to Kings Cross? A cultural shift. Let’s change the attitude of Kings Cross visitors and get people diversified throughout the strip. There for not only drinking, but also for entertainment, food, art galleries, night markets and other culturally significant events.

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?