Mayor de Blasio Signs Bill Establishing "Nightlife Mayor"

Legislation also establishes Nighttime Advisory Board with stakeholders from the hospitality and entertainment industries and community groups

Mayor Bill de Blasio has signed legislation, Introduction 1688, to create the Office of Nightlife. He was joined by the bill’s sponsor Council Member Rafael Espinal, as well as Julie Menin, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), Tom Finkelpearl, Commissioner for Department of Cultural Affairs, as well as other elected officials and advocates. The office and the soon-to-be hired ‘Nightlife Mayor’ will serve as a central point of contact between City agencies, the nightlife industry, and city residents, promoting a safe and vibrant nightlife scene beneficial to businesses and residents across the five boroughs. The bill signing took place at House of Yes, a performance arts venue in Bushwick.

The city’s nightlife industry is a key component of the overall economy, supporting 300,000 jobs and generating billions of dollars in economic benefits. With the creation of the Office of Nightlife, New York City joins more than 30 major cities around the world – including London, Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam – that have established similar models and experienced extremely positive outcomes from a healthier nighttime economy.

In June 2017, Mayor de Blasio announced that MOME would expand to include the first ever Office of Nightlife. Serving under the Commissioner of MOME, the Senior Executive Director of the Office of Nightlife (known colloquially as the ‘Nightlife Mayor’) will help establish this Office, implement recommendations made by a Nightlife Taskforce that will be convened to address challenges and opportunities in NYC’s nightlife industry, which includes restaurants, bars and music venues, and manage day to day operations. The Office will be a liaison between the nightlife industry, residents, and the city government ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, and to foster good relations between nightlife establishments and the surrounding community.

This legislation also establishes a Nightlife Advisory Board, which will consist of 12 members appointed by the Mayor and the City Council Speaker. The board will make recommendations on issues and trends relating to common obstacles faced by business owners in the nightlife industry, public safety concerns, enforcement, zoning, and other community relations matters. The Board will provide recommendations to the Mayor and the City Council within 18 months of the effective date of the law.

MOME has begun interviewing candidates for the Senior Executive Director of Nightlife position, which is listed on NYC Jobs.

House of Yes

2 Wyckoff Ave

Brooklyn, NY 11237