Cyber Cafes Targeted

New York Sun ^ | Oct. 6, 2003 | R. H. Sager

[firebrand]

The wave of the future, so it's time to regulate it and probably tax it.

[Support Free Republic]

Hi mom!

[firebrand]

Politicians using the "not in my backyard" ploy to get attention before the election. And a burgeoning business might get halted in its tracks. Too bad.

[firebrand]

When I first started coming to this cafe, it was empty, and the hours were shorter than they are now. In a year and a half it has started to thrive. I would hate to see these hardworking people get crippled by our low-IQ, self-serving City Council.

[Husker24]

I smell a pricy new "permit" on its way.

[firebrand]

Our City Council and State Legislature at work--for our good, of course.

[Clemenza]

This happens to hit very close to home for me, as Marty Golden is my State Senator and this cafe is right near my local movie theatre. The cafe in question tends to attract a mix of Chinese and Puerto Rican kids, who often get into fights over computer space to play their idiotic video games. Even worse is these little punks have the gall to loiter on the stoops of neighboring houses, many of which are occupied by the elderly.

I am opposed to many of these proposals, but suggest a few ideas of my own: 1. Send officers to these cafes throughout the day to enforce truancy laws, 2. Immediately arrest the juveniles in question for loitering and 3. Warn the cafe owners to keep their "clients" in line and ticket them for not cracking down on unruly patrons.

I also wish the cafe owners would create "quiet zones" in the cafe for adults. I had to leave another cafe close to my apartment do to a gang of obnoxious, foul mouthed Arab kids who took it over to play games and mouth off at eachother.

[Clemenza]

On the other hand shutting them down and licensing them is nearly as totalitarian as the smoking ban. I have a feeling that Marty is getting tough on these places as the elderly are the largest voting block here, while the owners of the cafe are Chinese immigrants with little political interest.

[firebrand]

Marty received state Republican money for his campaign last fall, and this is how he repays business owners.

I don't like the cafe in Times Square. The sign saying NO GANG BANDANNAS was enough to put me off. But my secret cafe is very nice. A few arguments over games sometimes--once or twice when I was here.

[adam_az]

In a down economy, Internet cafes seem to be one of the only types of business proliferating in the outer boroughs.

I guess the author never heard of the other type of business flourishing in the outer boroughs, prostitution?

[jd777]

Yeah, kids going into use the computers is dangerous. Let's get them back out on the street!

[Plutarch]

If it moves-- tax it.
If it is still moving-- regulate it.
If it stops moving-- subsidize it.

[weegee]

...defines an Internet cafe as: "any commercial establishment that provides access to computers to the public through which said public may connect with the Internet or World Wide Web."

So libraries would be exempted from the reach of government (the ALA will be glad to hear this) but coffee shops and waiting rooms will be regulated. Non-profit arts organizations that sell beer and wine would be permitted to run unsupervised cyber cafes though.

There are a lot of RINOs in NY with that (R) by their names. How do I know this guy is a conservative?

[weegee]

The power to tax is the power to destroy.

[firebrand]

Mr. Golden, who last week derided the "Internet craze" that "continues to grow,"

He's no geek, that's for sure.

[Rome2000]

This business is the hottest thing going right now.

Sucessful places can gross $5,000 a week, its no wonder that greedy NYC bloodsucker rat politicains are eager to license and collect their cut.

[weegee]

He obviously doesn't know FReepers or else he would realize that not everyone on the internet poses a threat or is just goofing off.

[lmr]

Just like in my local city when they tried to 'franchise' local trash hauling. What they were suggesting would put many local haulers out of business (In my town, the citizens can choose their own trash company). They said that franchising would solve alot of problems like illegal dumping, lower rates, more service and alot of other things. In fact, the opposite was true. The whole point of franchising was REVENUE GENERATION, the creation of a FRANCHISE FEE and the intrusion of government on a competitive marketplace that has and continues to serve our city very well for many years. Needless to say, franchising was defeated in our city, but the issue rears it's ugly head every 4 or 5 years. (Usually after most current Council members have used up their terms and then the new faces start to explore the issue again.) I see this proposal for Internet Cafes the same way. UNWANTED GOVERNMENT.

[unixfox]

Internet cafes are thriving BIG time in Mexico. The reason? Because they have zero regulation !!

Hello Amerika !!