Detroit may be the next U.S. city to allow bars, nightclubs and venues to stay open and serve alcohol past 2:00 AM. After a proposal from a group including Underground Resistance (UR) Co-Founder “Mad” Mike Banks and label manager Cornelius Harris, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan spoke in favor of a 4:00 AM cutoff.
“Electronic music is a $6.5 billion industry globally,” said Harris during a meeting that took place at UR headquarters Submerge. “It was created here. The question is, of course, how much of that money makes its way back into the city? And the answer is very little.”
The city of Berlin rakes in an estimated $900 million in techno-related tourism, as the group pointed out. In addition, they recommended that the city appoint a nightlife liaison as has been done in clubbing destinations in a handful of European countries.
Duggan responded, “We need to do it in a way that’s sensitive to neighbors and the like, but I think if we plan it together we can do it.”
Mayor Duggan has acknowledged Detroit’s identity in electronic music in the past. Shortly before last year’s edition of Movement he declared the week leading up to the festival Detroit Techno Week – and he’s also spoken favorable of a 4:00 AM cutoff previously.
As the required legislation is still in the speculative stage, no bill to that effect has been officially proposed at this time.
Source: Mixmag
