Underage bar gets raised -- APRIL FOOLS!!
Dear readers: Thanks so much for checking out our Web site and reading this story. I should've known threatening taking a way a cold beer on the verge of a hot summer would cause you all to react, then think. I can't say I would've done differently! But, as the day winds to the end, so does my fun with this story - April Fools. There is no Rashaan Didaye-fuyah ("Did I Foo' Ya?") and Youngstown has seven wards, not eight. At any rate, thanks for letting Valley24.com play a joke. We got some laughs out of it, and hope you did, too. Thanks for reading, Katie Libecco.
YOUNGSTOWN – A city councilman says he's found a solution to the city government's financial woes - but it could mean you'll drink less.
Eighth ward councilman Rashaan Didaye-fuyah has proposed legislation that raises the legal drinking age to 28 in order to secure funding to steady the city's economy.
"If you can't remember the mills closing, you're not old enough to drink a Pabst," Didaye-fuyah says.
With the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, most states set the minimum legal drinking age at 21. However, Didaye-fuyah says he's found a loophole in those same documents and subsequent legislation in the 60s that would allow more state and federal dollars to flow into the city if the taps flow less.
U.S. President Ronald Reagan also enacted legislation raising the minimum age of alcohol consumption in 1982 nationwide, though some states were later to adapt the federal mandate than others.
"It's a simple enough solution to fix a continuing problem. It's a way to avoid asking taxpayers for more money, while fixing an on-going budget crisis," Didaye-fuyah, a first-term councilman, says. "A few less drunks isn't a bad thing for the community, either."
Didaye-fuyah says his proposal would need a reading during council's next meeting tomorrow, April 2, and two more public readings and a majority vote before becoming part of the city's codified ordinances. It would also require the approval of Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams, who did not return phone calls regarding Didaye-fuyah's proposal.
Once approved, it would take 90 days for the new alcohol ordinance to take affect. According to the proposal, adults under the age of 28 will not be permitted to buy or consume alcohol in public, and adults under the age of 28 will only be permitted to consume alcohol in a private residence if accompanied by a parent, guardian or spouse over the age of 28.
Didaye-fuyah says minimum age legislation is similar to highway speed limit designations on federal highways: the slower drivers are permitted to drive at, the more dollars the state receives in federal funding.
The extreme proposal could ultimately bring in more than $4 million annually, according to figures provided by Didaye-fuyah. He was unsure if the money could be used to help the struggling Youngstown city schools.
The legislation has found support from MADD, whose local members have said they'll back Didaye-fuyah's legislation. However, the proposal has also raised concern from ACLU members who see it as a form of age discrimination.
Didaye-fuyah said the effect the legislation would have on local businesses would be addressed at tomorrow's meeting.
Youngstown City Council
- When: Wednesday, April 2, 2008, 5 p.m.
- Where: Downtown Youngstown, 300 W. Federal Street, Youngstown
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Comments
"If you can't remember the mills closing, you're not old enough to drink a Pabst," Didaye-fuyah says.
so you can only drink if you were alive to watch youngstown die? what a piece of human garbage.
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"...adults under the age of 28 will only be permitted to consume alcohol in a private residence if accompanied by a parent, guardian or spouse over the age of 28."
This is absurd. So I'd have to invite my parents over to babysit me while I enjoy a beer??
We all enjoy our alcohol immensely in Youngstown, even (perhaps especially) our political figures. I'd be surprised if this legislation actually passes.
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What a complete fucking idiot. All this will do is shut down what few business are surviving downtown. Can you imagine a 28+ Cedars? What a dumb idea. I can't think of a single city that has a drinking age of 28. This is just stuck on stupid.
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28+ is a bad idea. No matter how much people desire a world where people go to venues to just see music, it isn't probable for acts that are not big, national acts. Therefore, we need another medium for local music fans to express themselves through: alcohol. And, if you ask me, 21-28 is a similar mindset for both males and females. The maturity level is low in guys and high in girls from age 18. So, I vote no to the the age increase.
-Lee Boyle of Third Class
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I shouldn't be able to drink since I wasn't alive when the mills shut down? What kind of twisted, inane logic is that? As if this town isn't already stuck in the past, let's reflect on the mills closing as a logical time table to allow drinking. The young people are the only ones who can help this community. Alienating them is the worst possible thing that could happen to this area. This dude is ridiculous.
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"I shouldn't be able to drink since I wasn't alive when the mills shut down? What kind of twisted, inane logic is that? As if this town isn't already stuck in the past, let's reflect on the mills closing as a logical time table to allow drinking"
the couching of this proposition in the terms of youngstown history is what annoys me the most. as if being part of Youngstown's troubled history is a necessary requirement for the privilege of drinking. the only thing his quotes are missing is grumbling about those damn kids and their ipods.
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wow. wethinks Earth is due for a planetary reappraisal of intelligence.
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i cant believe no one has looked at the calendar. its after 5, so i can officially ruin your fun.
A: city council cannot propose legislation
B: raising the drinking age would kill downtown
C: this is all legally impossible
D: not one word of this has appeared in any other local media.
this may all just be a ruse to get internet know-it-alls to attend city council meetings. when they walk in, i hope theres a big sign that says 'youre a moron.'
april fools. read a newspaper. mackey, im disappointed in you. i hope youre just playing along.
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i actually looked at the calendar, and created a username so i could say this was clearly an april fools joke. but then i was beat to it. how do you delete this thing.
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That's a good one, Didaye-fuyah. I'm all for mock-revolution.
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April Fools... ;)
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Haha you fucks, the actual joke is that it took something like this for people to post on this sinking ship.
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of course i realized that the internet is the worst place to be on april 1st. but since youngstown has no shortage of people with stupid ideas, this had a certain authentic quality to it; raising the drinking age certainly makes more sense than rukus radio.
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Awww poor Bob Mackey. His internet social life is even deader than his real one. And he's just dying for me to come back! He'll say anything!
http://bobservo.livejournal.com/289932.h...
It's just sad, man. You need a new hobby. Attempting to damage reputations isn't really your forte. No one cares. No one cares about the stupid economy, your crappy commentary on Mike Meyers' movies, or how you feel about the 12 months of the year.
Disc golf is nice this time of year. You should give that a go. Or maybe crocheting. I'd love a little "home is where the heart is" masterpiece. You should make it with like a computer monitor fused with a boombox. That'd be sweet. Let me know when I can pick it up!
Oh, and what the hell, for old time's sake... www.rukusradio.net. Brand spankin' new with all kinds of live shows and interviews from all over the area! We're recording the GMPD show this friday, so be sure to stay tuned for details on when it's going to air. Hell, we may even do a live broadcast that night! Tune in to find out!
-s
P.S. I didn't mean to get your hopes up or anything. This isn't going to be a regular happening, my posting. I just needed to laugh at you.
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Isn't it funny that this blog got more comments quicker than a crime or political post? Boy, this town is full of d's: drunks, drug addicts & dirty people. WooHoo, that's the YO!!! I love living in a place where no one actually succeeds and we are all doomed to fail...NO MATTER WHAT, Yes, yes, yes!!!!
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oh god you discovered a post i made viewable to the entire internet, which was read and responded to by staff members of valley 24
my... my... reputation
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hahaha yes, the classic Mackey reply. Sidestep every major point, and only focus on the minor. That's exactly why i quit arguing with you folks in the first place.
The fact that your blog was responded to by A v24 staff member (singular... because as much as you wish you were, you're not staff), has absolutely nothing to do with my posting the link.
You miss me. It's ok. It's actually kind of cute. See you kids around.
-s
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