News Article: March 17, 2006
Bar owners make changes ahead of deadline
News 1130
Saturday, March 17 - 08:34:34 PM
Claudia Kwan
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) - They say a community plan needs to be created to improve public order. John Teti is with Barwatch. He says they've put metal detectors and ID scanners in all of the bars along the Granville strip, and stopped allowing clubgoers to line up after 2 AM. This makes it easier to move those looking for trouble along before closing time.
But he says the entertainment district as a whole has to deal with public disorder, not just the bars. He says restaurants, cab companies and hotels all need to get together to discuss a solution.
He believes having a community plan for businesses along Granville from the strip to the bridge would facilitate an equal sharing of costs for control measures.
Barwatch is now only focussing on public safety, and will leave advocacy issues to a separate group that's being set up.