ACCORDING TO MAYOR JOE RILEY AND POLICE CHIEF MULLEN, THE ANSWER IS FORCING ALL NEW RESTAURANTS AND BARS IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON TO CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT. BUT WE’RE WONDERING; WHAT’S THE QUESTION? WHAT IS THE MIDNIGHT MORATORIUM SUPPOSED TO SOLVE? IS IT A PARKING ISSUE? MAYBE MORE PARKING GARAGES IS THE ANSWER. IS IT TOO MANY PEOPLE ON THE STREET AFTER CLOSING TIME. MAYBE MORE CABS OR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS THE ANSWER. IS THERE AN INFLUX OF CRIME AFTER MIDNIGHT? WE DON’T SEE ANY POLICE REPORTS THAT INDICATE THAT, BUT IF SO MAYBE A FEW EXTRA POLICE OFFICERS IS THE ANSWER? SO BEFORE WE DECIDE THAT THE ANSWER IS A MIDNIGHT CURFEW, LET’S FIND OUT THE QUESTION. ON WEDNESDAY AT 5PM, THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION IS VOTING ON A PROPOSED MORATORIUM THAT WOULD REQUIRE NEW RESTAURANTS AND BARS TO CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT. IF YOU FEEL THIS IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE BUSINESSES AND THE CITY IN GENERAL, PLEASE JOIN US AT THE MEETING TO VOICE OUR CONCERNS. THE MEETING IS WEDNESDAY AT 5PM AT 75 CALHOUN STREET IN THE CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUILDING.
