Dear Editor:
I’d like to take this opportunity to rebut the comments made last week by Mr. Tom Bragen in a letter to the editor that called for the closing of bars in Hoboken at 1 a.m. on weekends and “12 p.m.” on weekdays (that’s noon, Mr. Bragen–don’t you think that’s a little too strict? I’ll assume you meant midnight) in response to the tragic death of Jonathan Wende which resulted from an altercation outside Hoboken’s Cadillac Bar several weeks ago.
I ask Mr. Bragen what difference it would have made if the tragedy occurred two hours earlier? The fact of the matter is that random violence can occur at anytime and anywhere because there is an element in our society that perpetrates it. Closing the bars earlier isn’t going to change that.
To respond to Mr. Bragen’s contention that countries in Europe have solved the problem by closing the bars earlier, I must point out that he couldn’t be more wrong. In The United Kingdom efforts are being made to increase the hours of operation for bars and pubs–potentially around the clock–in order to prevent raucous behavior being concentrated at a specific time. “The law as it stands contributes to public order and policing problems,” according to British Home Secretary Jack Straw. “Fixed closing times encourage binge drinking around last orders. The result is lots of people hitting the streets–and sometimes each other–at the same time.”
Hoboken’s current policy of a “one-way” door after 2 a.m. on weekends with bars to empty by 3 a.m. is one of the more ingenious and effective ways of preventing the problems of a mass, simultaneous, drunken exodus onto the streets. The time is late enough where most people go home at their own volition. And the fact that once you’re out the door after 2 a.m. you can’t get back in anywhere else gradually thins out the number of people on the streets by the time closing comes around. Unfortunately this does not completely eliminate the potential for conflict, but it does reduce it–as opposed to Mr. Bragen’s solution, which just sets the stage for conflict at a larger scale but two hours earlier.
Another matter of fact ignored by Mr. Bragen is his sole focus on the bars of Hoboken. I’ve personally been witness to late night confrontations in fast food restaurants, diners and delis. If you’re scrutinizing the “greed” of businesses that stay open and attract customers late at night, then these businesses deserve your scorn as well. But the fact of the matter is that it’s not the business that is to blame in these matters, it’s the individual who commits the act.
As a bartender, I’ll estimate that 999 out of 1000 of the patrons I deal with are there for a good time, to socialize, and to go home safe at the end of the night. But then there’s that one rare element that goes out with a different agenda, and they lead to most of the problems. All to often people look to a larger entity to blame rather than the individual directly responsible, and it’s time for our society to reexamine the concept of personal accountability.
What happened to Jonathan Wende is nothing less than a tragedy and I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. I’m sure Mr. Bragen was attempting to do the same, but as we look for an answer to why it happened we should avoid any knee-jerk generalizations that could potentially make matters worse in the long run.
And anyone who does go out looking for trouble should take heed to this tragedy as well. Christopher M. Halleron