London's New Mayor Finds Culture and Heritage in City's Nightlife

A thriving nightlife is finally getting recognition as part of a city's cultural backbone. Michael Scott Barron of Thump writes that newly elected London Mayor Sadiq Khan is one of the latest "nightlife mayors" who have pushed for greater support and recognition of nightlife as generators of cultural and economic benefits—including attracting visitors and jobs. Barron reports that Khan has advocated for "agent of change" legislation that would require developers to acknowledge the presence of nightclubs in the neighborhood when they build, and sometimes pay for the soundproofing of new residential units. Khan joins mayors from Paris to San Francisco in their support for local nightlife.

Similar support for nightclubs was passed in San Francisco in 2014, when Mayor Edwin M. Lee launched an initiative to support nightlife and entertainment industry by providing easy-to-access resources for owners of nighttime institutions. "Our City's world-class nightlife and entertainment industry helps make San Francisco a unique and great place to live, work, play and visit," said Mayor Lee. "The range of tools we are deploying provides our nightlife and entertainment businesses with valuable resources and guidance so they can start, stay, and successfully thrive— keeping San Francisco a premier nightlife destination."