New York City’s first “nightlife mayor” is stepping down after five years
Ariel Palitz oversaw a number of schemes to improve nightlife in NYC
New York City’s first “nightlife mayor” has announced she will be stepping down after five years.
Ariel Palitz was assigned The New York Office Of Nightlife in 2018, a year after the role was announced and has seen her work through the pandemic as well as on schemes to end harmful practices within the nightlife of the city.
Stepping down from the role she explains that she will continue “supporting and fighting for the nightlife industry and community,” she tells Time Out.
Palitz will officially end her term in April but for now, the Office of Nightlife will be searching for a replacement.
Read this next: How to have the perfect 24 hours in New York City
"I was chosen to help establish this brand new office, build the foundation, infrastructure and define what the office was intended to do," says Palitz. "After navigating it through a pandemic and two administrations, I felt that it was important to pass the torch and ensure that the existence of the Office of Nightlife carries on in a way that is not really just dependent upon me."
The job posting according to Time Out, is looking for someone to "monitor trends, issues and violations issued to nightlife establishments," "oversee the production of an annual report," "represent the office at various industry events" and "assist nightlife businesses with permitting, licensing and other government navigation."
Read this next: New 140-capacity club Outer Heaven opens in New York
The proposed annual salary ranges between $72,038 and $136,000 with minimum requirements to those applying to be a baccalaureate degree and three years of full-time experience “of a nature to qualify for the duties and responsibilities of the position.”
The replacement will also take over Palitz’s programs such as the Nightlife Industry Training and Education (NITE) and the School and Mediating Establishment and Neighborhood Disputes (MEND).
Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Video and Editorial Assistant, follow her on Twitter