By Spencer Bates

With the previous announcement of a new social district in the City of Oswego citizens and businesses are left with questions as they await further details from the local government.

The proposed social district will allow for possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages within a specific area of the city. In an effort to support local businesses, Mayor Billy Barlow announced the district will go into effect on June 1 and last through Oct. 1 from noon to 12 a.m. each day.

Alison Scanlon, manager of Press Box, echoed the excitement there is surrounding the announcement from a business perspective. Barring the chance that any major changes will need to be made, she sees no possible downside to the district and is prepared for an increase in sales.

“I hope not that many, I think maybe it’d just be people when they’re leaving can take a cocktail to go. I don’t think it’s going to be anything crazy,” Scanlon said. “I hope it brings us more business but I don’t think it could bring us less.”

Barlow believes that the district will do just that in terms of bringing in more revenue for businesses. He also believes it will be a way for people to get to experience more of what the city has to offer.

“I think it will generate a boost for businesses, it gives them another opportunity to expand services and sales,” Barlow said. “The idea here is that if someone is downtown dining at a restaurant or drinking at a local establishment, if they’re leaving to go catch a sunset or to go watch one of our downtown concerts or to walk around the farmers market or experience other parts of downtown, they can get a drink to go and not be in violation of the open container ordinance.”

He went on to say how the soial district will add to the overall ambiance of the city and how the excellent work that’s been put into downtown will now be able to be on full display. With a plethora of summertime events being announced within the city Barlow is excited about the opportunity the social district has in boosting foot traffic while also making a safe environment for the people citing other cities who have done something similar.

“I think it’s a great opportunity, a natural progression for downtown to do this,” Barlow said. “I think it’s a safe and responsible way to allow people to get a beverage as they explore the rest of downtown and it’s been done in other cities and it’s been quite successful.”

However, there is still a shroud surrounding the announcement as businesses have yet to hear further details or instructions from local government officials. Local bar, The Cellar Door declined to speak on anything pertaining to the social district as they have yet to receive information. Scanlon is hopeful that they will hear from the city soon.

“I hope so, I haven’t reached out to anyone yet though either, but the city hasn’t given me an email or anything that I’ve seen on everything that’s happening.”

Barlow spoke on how the bill first needs to be passed before they can send out any information to restaurants, bars and the people of Oswego. The vote is scheduled for April 11 and Barlow is confident that there will not be any issues getting it passed as he has wide councilor support.

Barlow hopes to have more information out and available for businesses and citizens by next month. However, he did provide some early information that is already in the works.

“Probably in mid-May we will reach out to businesses and the public and just educate them on all the rules and what this district actually means,” Barlow said. “At the same time we’re going to partner with Novelis to give participating bars and restaurants an initial stock of cups.”

These cups have very specific parameters in that they need to be clear, cannot be larger than 16 oz. and have to be branded with the social district logo. Barlow said that the city will provide the initial stock of cups to those businesses that are wanting to participate but made sure to note that it will be up to those businesses to restock them after the first batch if they choose to continue to let patrons take drinks to go.

If the bill passes, the social district will go into effect on June 1 and will encompass the area between West First Street and East First Street and will stretch from Utica Street to the shores of Lake Ontario.

Image via oswegony.org