Red Flag Number One: Whenever A Business Lobby Calls A Regulatory Board’s Move “Judicious And Measured”

How a four-month moratorium on issuing liquor licenses needing a 500-foot exemption answers the issue of bouncer murders and underage drinking I don’t know — but I think there’s more to this ostensibly civic-minded decision than meets the eye:

The state liquor board yesterday imposed an immediate four-month freeze on approving liquor licenses for areas of New York City that already have three or more license holders within 500 feet of each other.

The unanimous action by the New York State Liquor Authority, which was immediately denounced by a trade group of city nightclubs, follows the deaths this year of two young women. They were killed after drinking heavily at nightspots in SoHo and Chelsea.

Robert Bookman, a lawyer for the New York Nightlife Association, a trade group of 125 bars and nightclubs, mainly in Manhattan, said the action was unfair. It has “thrown the industry into chaos within the last few hours,” he said.

Mr. Bookman added, “If I have my lifetime savings wrapped up in a place that I’m prepared to open Oct. 1 and now I can’t get a license until January, how am I going to pay $30,000 in monthly rent and not be able to open?”

By contrast, Scott Wexler, executive director of the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association, with 5,000 members statewide, called the state action “judicious and measured.”

Enlightened self interest: doing the right thing for the public — traffic! loitering! murder! — all while keeping competition at bay. Genius!

Bonus angle: is all or some of this connected to this announcement?

And who is this organization with 5,000 members statewide? Aren’t there like 20,000 restaurants in the five boroughs alone?