Politics & Government

Shook: Reduced Bar Hours Mean Less Crime

Cites murders during 'Buckhead Village Nightmare Years'

Buckhead City Councilman Howard Shook, who represents District 7, has e-mailed Buckhead Patch a response to a reader named Dustin's comments regarding a proposal to extend bar closing hours in Atlanta.

Dustin said that Shook's views that longer bar hours would increase crime go against economic principles found in the "Freakonomics" books and Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point."

Here is the link to Dustin's comments. They can also be found in the Comments section.

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Here is Shook's reponse:

"As a big fan of the "Freakonomics" books, I'm happy to clarify that my comments about the connection between late-night bar hours and crime reflect national and local data revealing an obvious cause-and-effect, as those of us who lived through the "Buckhead Village Nightmare Years" know. The Village body count consisted entirely of victims who died as the result of altercations that begin inside nightclubs, and only one of the murders occurred within the current closing time. With an earlier closing time crime didn't relocate, it simply diminished in relation to the conditions that fueled it.  Specifically, there have been no bar-related deaths in the Village since.

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btw: While I would love to have everyone's support, I know that's impossible. I am, however, happy to report that the Public Safety Committee agrees with me. They voted unanimously to oppose extending the hours.

Howard Shook
District 7 Councilman 


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