MayorMcGinn1.jpg
Mayor McGinn.(KIRO Radio/Tim Haeck)

Seattle to offer "liquor sticker" for more convenient night out

December 29, 2010 @ 5:19 am (Updated: 1:30 pm - 3/28/11 )

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By ALEX SILVERMAN
KIRO Radio
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As part of Mayor McGinn's initiative to make a night on the town a bit less of a hassle, Seattle parking pay stations will soon offer a next-day prepaid parking option.

At a briefing at the historic Washington Hall Tuesday evening, McGinn said the change will coincide with a planned parking fee increase next year. Those out late in the city will have the option to purchase a sticker for the first two hours of metered time the following day.

"We'll make it possible for someone to buy the parking sticker late at night, put it in their car, so they would have until 10 a.m. to come back and get their car," McGinn said. "Some people, but not us, are calling it the liquor sticker."

The city will also post signs labeling late-night taxi zones, so tipsy club-goers can more easily catch a cab.

The city received more than 2,400 comments from the public since McGinn first announced his nightlife initiative in July.

The original plan included a study of whether extending alcohol service hours past 2 a.m. would be beneficial. "We've heard from the public that they like the extended service hours," McGinn said Tuesday. "They want us to continue to pursue it."

But McGinn said it will be some time, perhaps up to a year before the bureaucratic obstacles can be cleared, adding that he has discussed the proposition with the state liquor control board.

"There are serious public safety issues with the 2 a.m. pushout, which overwhelms our police resources," McGinn said.

The mayor cited a 95 percent success rate achieved by the city's Code Compliance team in resolving late-night club-related issues, but said the public comments also revealed a possible concern with the way that team goes about its duties.

The mayor has opened an audit into whether gay and lesbian clubs are unfairly targeted by compliance officers. "We decided our starting point should be to do an audit from the code compliance standpoint and get data on that," McGinn said, adding that the audit has just recently begun. He did not say how many complaints there have been.

"The Mayor's Office will continue to evaluate progress as the public brings concerns," a report released to the media Tuesday said.

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Comments (30)


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  • rmayer wrote...
    Too little too late Mr. Mayor
    December 29, 2010 5:40 am
    I found it too much of a hassle to come to Seattle and recently took my wife on an expensive night out to Bellevue. Free weekend parking, cleaner atmosphere and less transient pressures are making the east side a better choice.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mikeythegreek wrote...
    Eastside is the option
    December 29, 2010 6:02 am
    Much prefer the Eastside now. Seattle is past it's prime and thanks to the local public servants is no longer a viable option. Also looking forward to the possibility of a new arena being built on the Eastside also, Seattle can thank the incompetent Greg Nickles for selling out the Sonics and turning Queen Ann into a dive and the Key Arena into another useless building.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ottmilkr wrote...
    I agree Bellevue/ Quirkland
    December 29, 2010 6:36 am
    PF Chang , Foghorn, Sea Star , Anthonys... these are the places wealthy Republicans like myself like to dine. Seattle sux, with the homeless , the cardboard sign people, the loser blue collar men cruising for chicks that only people like myself have a shot at. No Seattle for me.
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  • Kosh wrote...
    "Another parking fee increase next year"
    December 29, 2010 6:47 am
    That will surely bring in the masses to a already unfriendly city that hates cars.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cdbtx wrote...
    I have
    December 29, 2010 6:49 am
    to agree with everyone else.... We tend to avoid Seattle like the plague anymore... especially when traffic is better, prices and parking are better... Seattle's past it's prime...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RnD_Fan wrote...
    rmayer, I agree (others too)
    December 29, 2010 7:03 am
    ...but did you just compare Crapeattle to Bellevue?

    That's not very fair!

    :-)

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • myopinion wrote...
    HOWEVER
    December 29, 2010 7:14 am
    There are no gay night spots in bellevue
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • artimus wrote...
    Yeah, Bellevue's a thrill a minute
    December 29, 2010 7:21 am
    You provencials crack me up. You might want to try Southcenter next; I think you'll find it right up your alley.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mcyclonegt wrote...
    one more
    December 29, 2010 7:24 am
    That is just one more reason to go to the eastside. Seattle is over rated.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Thanks but no thanx..
    December 29, 2010 7:48 am
    Downtown Seattle is a pain in the a55 to get to, expensive to be in, and a pain in the a55 to get out of. Couple that with Bell-town gun fights, wino's and aggresive pan-handlers on most every corner and I'll just go without the big city if thats OK. I hate to contribute to the boneing of the local businesses there (especially the small ones) but I cant stand much of that city anymore, and I'm a native. By the way, Bellevue, your all right but I really dont like having to dress up and buy a new european car before I visit your nice antiseptic berg..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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