Listen, I’m sure things are going to pick up dramatically later tonight downtown — as they do on every Friday night when the weather is warm.
The crowds tonight will be more intense than normal — maybe a lot more. There will be fights, arrests, and ridiculous drunken behavior.
And some people will have a whole mess of fun.
But the “festival zone” has been in effect since early this morning. That’s the area in which drinkers will need $5 wristbands to drink legally.
Bikes are banned from the zone, apparently even on streets that are still open to cars.
Anyone cited for an ordinance violation who is not a resident of Chatham County is likely to be taken to jail, according to recent statements by the police.
Is anyone who has been watching this overreach surprised that there are still hotel rooms available downtown and throughout the area?
Is anyone surprised that the screen captures that I just took — below — of the public live cams show so little activity?
I hope everyone has a safe time out there tonight and tomorrow during and after the parade.
But we’ve created all these layers of bureaucracy and closed so many streets for this?
