Slashdot Mirror
Los Angeles To Impose Restrictions On Gaming Cybercafes
Thanks to the L.A. Daily News for its story discussing new safety-related restrictions for cybercafes in Los Angeles, including "restricted hours for children, video surveillance and interior waiting areas." Apparently: "Council members voted 11-0 to place rules on roughly 30 cybercafes in Los Angeles that draw a primarily teenage clientele to play video games on high-speed computers linked to the Internet", following "a melee outside the NetStreet Cafe in Northridge [that] left two people injured in December 2002 [and was linked to Counter-Strike in some stories]." Councilman Greg Smith commented: "Cybercafes are not inherently bad or troublesome, it's the attractive nuisance that they provide to children... It's just the nature of the beast that they draw people late at night and provide a place to go that may attract problems." Update: 07/08 23:56 GMT by S : A commenter points to a detailed analysis of the requirements from someone involved in the negotiations, who concludes: "This is actually a victory for the nascent and struggling [cybercafe] industry."
I was the industry representative for the cybercafe industry who helped negotiate a better deal for the cybercafes. Here is my detailed description of what the ordinance requires: LA City Council Votes to Regulate Cybercafes
That's the one I go to, where Kinko's used to be next to where Common Grounds used to be (dang I miss that place).
Its pretty quiet over there.
They have a security guard, and the cops come by in the parking lot once in a while.
Nowadays, though, there's a lot of women, mothers, and regular people just doing internet, printing, and students doing term papers.
(they wisely split the space in two: a warzone (dark, neony, loud) and the rest (headphones, light, etc)
About 10 of their PC don't actually have any games.
their website: netstreet.net (i think)
It's at reseda and prairie, 91325.
"Piter, too, is dead."
Video Arcades were the subject of this as well in the 80's. In some cities, so many rules were imposed it made arcade go out of business sooner than they would have otherwise.