Page 14 - Layout 1

LOBI0418_Layout 1 3/15/18 10:06 PM Page 12

The City’s New

Night Manager

Fort Lauderdale staffs Amsterdam is credited with inventing the “night mayor”
position in 2014, and it has spread to cities worldwide.
a team to manage the What have you learned from those efforts?

Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to meet Mirik Milan
‘nighttime economy’ from Amsterdam and other nighttime economy managers
and hear them speak about their efforts. One of my
hile Fort Lauderdale might be widely known for biggest takeaways would be the necessity of partnering
its nightlife, from the early days of Spring Break
Wbars to the high-end Las Olas restaurants of and vibrant and safe after-hours life that builds on what
today, there’s never been someone at City Hall directly in Fort Lauderdale already offers. Without their commitment,
charge of managing it. creativity energy, and passionate contribution, all we have
is a bunch of government regulation.
Until now. Last year, the city set aside an entire
Second, we need to realize that “nightlife” doesn’t refer
department to be managed by its new nighttime economy
manager, Sarah Hannah-Spurlock. only to a party scene but rather a life where a significant
segment of the population works, lives, and plays after
A veteran local government employee, Hannah-Spurlock five. It’s important that we address their needs as well.
previously worked for Sunrise, Key West, and briefly for
the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. We reached out to Third, the nightlife isn’t something to be feared and shut
down, but rather nurtured and improved. A nightlife with
hear more about her new position.
activity for a diverse demographic leads to a safer and

12 LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLES