I have two questions for all the ASOCOBAS members and their supposed supporters . . .
Where were these supposedly 173 unemployed Sos?a citizens and why were they mysteriously absent from this protest that ASOCOBAS has been organizing for over a month?
If I could ask, why does it appear to bother you so?
I'm not really sure what "it" you are referring to that you think is bothering me, perhaps it's my comment about the ASOCOBAS assertion that 173 people have lost their jobs because of the change in closing times to 12:00 and 2:00am. So I added my original questions, that you left out when quoting me, for some context.
For almost two months ASOCOBAS has been claiming that 200 people, now changed to 173, have lost their jobs as a direct result of the change in hours and closing of four bars on Pedro Clisante. They started this assertion after only two weeks of the street closing and change in hours. The problem is this is totally false. Sure, some of the employees of the closed bars are currently without employment, but this amounts to no more than 25 people, probably alot less.
Rancho Tipico has reopened in the City Lights location with their old employees, some new employees, and also some workers who were previously employed at Rumba Bar. So that leaves the rest of the Rumba employees and the employees from Bermuda Bar and Las Flores, not that many, maybe 15.
Although Classico originally closed Sunday through Thursday for two weeks, they soon opened again from Thursday through Sunday, only closing Mon., Tues. and Wed. and Merengue Bar remains open every day.
Perhaps some workers from Chez Monreal may not be currently working due to their current renovation but this is very temporary.
And, some businesses have ADDED employees since the change in hours. Rancho Tipico (City Lights), as I stated above, Coral Bay Casino, Blue Ice and Bourbon Street Grill have all added employees and Rumba is renovating their kitchen to open as a restaurant bringing back Rick to run it.
So now ASOCOBAS had this protest that they have been planning for almost two months and get very little support. Like I stated before, take away the police, the press, some casual onlookers and maybe you had 75 actual "protesters". Of the people who actually were there as protesters I only saw a couple of Rumba workers who were actually unemployed. I'm sure there were a few others throughout the crowd. But to claim 173 people lost their jobs, when maybe a total of ten people in the protest crowd were actually unemployed just proves their claim is ridiculous.
I personally haven't met ONE person who actually lost their job as a result of the change in hours except for some employees of the bars that were actually closed down. I live here in Sos?a and speak with quite a few people daily about this subject and haven't heard of anyone actually losing their job because of the change in hours, not that their aren't any, but it is a very small number, certainly nowhere near 173.
Perhaps some of the '173' couldn't afford the pesos now to take a ride in, because as one can imagine, not all 75,000 you mentioned, live within the 'city' of Sos?a.
The "173" DO NOT EXIST. If they did, then yes, "perhaps some couldn't afford the pesos to take a ride in" but I'm sure it would be very few given the fact that this was their "livelihood" being put in jeopardy and perhaps their only chance to publicly voice their opposition.
I can tell you it bothers me; that I have to go home at midnight between Sun - Thurs, if I happen to be out. That is unless, one wants to go to Cabarete, Puerto Plata, or the Casino. Why are they able to stay open?
Didn't take long for them to:
1. Jack up drink prices within the first couple days.
2. Subsequently start charging RD$ 200 for 'certain people' to get in... then charge RD$ 200 for everyone else, regardless if you are playing.
I am not aware of any drink prices being "jacked up", however I can only speak of my experience at Bourbon Street Grill and they didn't change ANY prices on anything they offer. As far as the Casino goes, they are crooks, I wouldn't expect anything less.
It's not just the core bars that have to shut as you know, it's all within Sos?a region: Coco, Cucu, Jabali, Fraggle, Midtown, Jolly's, Spanky's, to name a few.
They also have staff including owners, bar tenders, waitresses, cleaning.
I don't think it's a stretch, to consider that this has affected a large number of people in various ways, especially in the slow season.
Others have posted here already, about the trickle down effect on the local economy.
I realize it is not just the "core bars" that have to observe the earlier closing hours, but yes, I do "think it's a stretch" to assume this has "affected a LARGE number of people". It certainly has affected the businesses on Pedro Clisante and also the other bars you mention as well as some motoconcho and taxi drivers and a few other establishments from the "trickle down effect". But based on the fact that Sos?a has some 75,000 inhabitants and hundreds of businesses, it is a very small "trickle."
ASOCOBAS claims that they represent "all of Sos?a", when in reality they represent a small group of business owners and some workers mainly from Pedro Clisante. They continuously make exaggerated claims which certainly cannot be substantiated and they play on the sentiments of a small group of easily influenced people. Their interests are self-serving and limited to this small group and their methods are questionable at best. The poor attendance and foolish rhetoric of their "protest" is a testament as to who they really represent.
Their propaganda continues, one of their representatives was speaking on a local radio program, a video clip was posted in this thread #1086, so take a look. At 1:17 of the video clip, the speaker representing the protesters, Daniel Mercado, made a claim that FORTY (40) businesses have been closed since and due to the change in operating hours. Even the interviewer repeats incredulously "CUARENTA?" and Mercado answers "EXACTAMENTE!"
FORTY ! ! ! . . . I want to see the list . . .
