Too much action on Third Street in the Falls

It is supposed to be Niagara Falls' revitalized entertainment district.

   The city and the state spent $3.5 million in 2005 to rebuild Third Street in hopes of reviving it as a popular night spot.

   But the recent reputation of the neighborhood has been clouded by late-night fights.

   Police on July 12 were forced to use a pepper ball gun to disperse a crowd on Third Street. In May, patrons threw beer bottles at officers when they tried to break up a fight.

   Now, police and Third Street bar owners are joining forces to address the problems. The city has increased overtime pay for weekend patrols and has set up weekly meetings between the police, city officials and business owners. They've also agreed to share information about trouble makers on the street.

   One bar owner, Louis N. Bax II, said his Club New York has been unfairly criticized as the root of the problem.

   But city officials have expressed concern that the dance club allows patrons ages 18 and up. Capt. John DeMarco told the City Council this month that few bars have success running "all ages clubs." Bax contends he has taken steps to ensure underage patrons are not drinking.

   What do you think? Can any bar have success with underage patrons? What kind of entertainment should we offer young adults?

- Denise Jewell Gee

Comments

[Chancellor Carlyle Roberts, II]

When the drinking age was 18, oh so many years ago, they weren't underage.

The problem isn't their age. The problem isn't that the state has this perverse need to dictate to people what substances they may ingest (or at least at what age they may ingest these substances). The problem is simply that individual people choose to engage in disruptive behavior.

Instead of dealing with this as if it was some sort of esoteric problem like "underage drinking" deal with the disruptive people individually. Instead of fighting some abstract concept called "crime," fight the criminals.