This blog began as an online newspaper about Kings Cross, Sydney. It now focuses on the deep problems of drug prohibition - which are so intrinsic to Kings Cross anyway - and exposes the many flaws in the prohibitionist argument, and the pseudo-science that governments fund to prop up their unjust and ineffective laws. Comments are welcome, but please be polite! Content on this site reflects only the views of the writer and are not necessarily those of the editor or any other organisation.
I can feel either a hymn or the blues coming on. Oh Lawdy. I suppose the people of Chechnya mustn't believe in God either. But why did that beautiful old church in Melbourne burn down the other night? Surely god would have saved it?
Isn’t it interesting that in the age group 0-19 that in Sydney it represents 21% and in the 2011 postcode it represents 11%. What a frightening drop from the census in the 1980’s when children grew up in the area.
Is this social engineering in that the predominantly gay councillors of South Sydney promoted the building of small bed sitters and gay campaigner Clover Moore attracted huge numbers of these people into the area.
I don’t care what your sexual orientation is. Its just an observation.
Personally, I love living in an area which isn't full of screaming brats. Don't know if you've noticed, but the planet is way overpopulated. Why do you think it's a problem that one small area of Sydney is oriented towards adult living rather than endless breeding? Isn't that diversity? By the way, I'm not gay, I'm an empty-nester who thought a suburban house with a yard was a better place to bring up kids.
I think the use of the word diversity to describe this area is incorrect. There are gays and children and single people in all suburbs. It’s the distribution of them in the 2011 postcode which is of interest.
And as the previous writer said its the changing demographics which should be examined.
I understand that once there were many children in the area. It would be of interest to find out why they are no longer here (yes I know they grew up) and the residency of the children who attend the local schools.
By 'diversity' I meant that the 2011 demographics create an area with a different flavour than most suburbs, which is more 'diverse' than if they were all similar. Spend an hour in Darlinghurst Road, then an hour in Military Rd Mosman. Thank god they're different! And isn't that why most of us live here rather than there?
I'd be interested to learn why people who don't like the Cross move here, and what right they have to try to sanitise it. A bit like the move-next-door-to-a-pub-then-complain-about-the-noise syndrome. Or Luna Park. This is what kills diversity.
I'd also like to know why people choose to live in an area they don't seem to like. Particularly when there are plenty of suburbs that fit their requirements exactly without them having to want to change a thing. I'm also fascinated to see these people suddenly claiming their address as Kings Cross, when 5 years ago none of them would have dreamed of adimtting to any address other than Potts Point.
You seem to miss the point. I was one who moved into the Cross (actually Potts Point) in the late 70’s. It was fantastic. Great shopping (you could buy a shirt-shoes-a gold ring-fresh fruit from a choice of stores-a camera from two camera stores or enjoy a coffee at anyone of about 15 café’s along Darlinghurst Rd and there were delicatessens. There was a Woolworths. In addition there was a fantastic night life from the abundance of hotel guests and hotel employees. People came from all over Sydney to enjoy the vibrancy of the area. From one end of Darlinghurst Rd to the other there were musicians playing or preaching. The streets were packed. The traffic backed all the way down William St to the City.
By the late 1980’s police corruption was endemic and drugs and street prostitution took over the area. I am offended by statements such as” if you don’t like it why did you come here”? I loved the area, it changed not me. There are so many of us getting older and hoping that it may return to what it once was.
Then there the other people who were attracted to the area, Those who arrived in the 90’s. They were attracted to the sleeze. The dirty run down shops the prostitution and the destitute. Remember the Cross preceded Double Bay. In its own time it was the upmarket and fashion area of Sydney. Things change. Double Bay is on the decline and other areas are on the up and up. When I was a child, Paddington and Newtown were sleezville. Now it’s the Cross’s turn. I find it offensive that people talk down parts of the North Shore such as Mosman. This reverse snobbery of “I cannot afford that , so you are all up yourselves” serves no purpose than to show up inferiority.
Some of us like clean and elegant, some like dirty and grimy. That is the nature of humanity. Some people strive to better themselves others like the status quo.
Today here are no traffic jams back to the City to get to the Cross. The hotels closed because they were empty. Sleeze repelled the locals and tourists . And guess what? The apartments are not selling. Yes there are plenty of new buildings in Potts Point but no one wants to live there. Ask the real estate agents. Who wins? Unfortunately no one. We are all losers. Who do we blame? Those people who could not solve the problems.
Remember that Sartore only wanted to return it to what it was. The streets were once elegant and friendly. Today it is just one dirty run down god forsaken hole.
I like the above comment, even though it disagrees with my view. It is certainly a view I have often heard put and it is great to have this debate.
We all mourn the Cross of old. The point now is, what is the best way forward? Mr Sartor's plans to make the Cross a clone of the city is certainly not the way. People travel to difference, not sameness according to iconic urbanist Jane Jacobs.
I note we now have a Woolworths as well as Coles but the migration of the banks to Macleay St means that will be the new retail magnet. Hopefully you will be able to buy your shirts etc down there, if you can afford the price-tag.
I would love to know the definition of 'sleeze' please. Without including any judgemental statements.
Whatever your definition, I think to blame the downturn of The Cross on 'sleeze' confuses, partly at least, cause and effect. There are larger forces at work since our friend moved here in the 70s. Darling Harbour. The rise of Oxford St and Paddo. Fox Studios. Georges and Paxtons camera stores. The international tourism downturn. Closure of hotels (although we have just had the Formule One open up). The big department stores 15 minutes walk away. Personally I have no trouble buying a shirt. There are about 100 shirt shops within a pleasant stroll.
This has just made the human beings you describe as 'sleeze' more visible, and let's grant that some of these people may have arrived to fill the vacuum. However the cops have been systematically 'ethnic cleansing' the undesirables for over a year now, especially from Fitzroy gardens. There is not much more of it here than anywhere else, unless you refer to our gorgeously tacky strip clubs that save the place from the fate of Glebe, which is utterly dead by 9.30pm.
The way forward is NOT to kill the Cross as is being systematically attempted at the moment. It is to grow the good and interesting elements that are there, thus diluting, displacing and disguising the 'sleeze'.
Hence our opposition to the Sartor clone plan, and our suggestions to spend OUR millions on visibly enhancing the European charm still evident in many streets, and the amazing history and culture of the place. Dare I mention Bohemia, but I prefer the term demimonde. I have specific, inexpensive suggestions for this that would get mentions in all the guide books -- free marketing forever!
But this is far too lateral for the powers that be with their love of big money solutions.
I moved here as a teenager in the 70's as well and the writer above reminds me of just how wonderful the Cross was. I'd also like to see it return to the days when it was charming and elegant by day - but not at the expense of it's nightlife.
The great concern in all this is that neither Lucy Turnbull/Sartor in her Clean-up-the-Cross scheme, nor any of the local business/heritage groups have ever acknowledged that the Cross has a nightlife. No mention in any of their visions of fabulous new nightclubs, bars, theatres - or dare I mention new strip clubs or adult venues. Frankly, if there was a choice, I'd sooner see it dead in the daytime and partying all night - New Orleans style. I can shop anywhere.
I moved here as a teenager in the 70's as well and the writer above reminds me of just how wonderful the Cross was. I'd also like to see it return to the days when it was charming and elegant by day - but not at the expense of it's nightlife.
The great concern in all this is that neither Lucy Turnbull/Sartor in her Clean-up-the-Cross scheme, nor any of the local business/heritage groups have ever acknowledged that the Cross has a nightlife. No mention in any of their visions, of fabulous new nightclubs, bars, theatres - or dare I mention new and better strip clubs or adult venues. (The local heritage society for instance seems to actively oppose any DA related to an entertainment venue - and usually for reasons that have nothing to do with heritage). These few individuals don't want to see the Cross live again by day and by night - they have a different agenda that's entirely fun-free.
Frankly, if I had to make a choice, I'd sooner see the Cross boarded up in the daytime and partying all night - New Orleans style. As for shopping - I can do that anywhere.
They are not strip clubs. They are brothels. Can’t you see the ambulances were always called to revive the overdosed girls. Remember Turnbull wanted them closed because the spa’s were infested, the towels were filthy and condoms were littering the floors. There are serious health issues here. They are not clubs in the European sense. Their owners are those creeps hanging about in their dirty jeans in the street. They are pimps who have doormen on brothel commission. They have no idea about clean, and classy.
Fabulous bars , nightclubs, theatres in the Cross? Name two of each? Walk down the street and look at one dirty run down shop after another. Look at every dirty run down strip place. The Cross is dead man. The only good thing about the Cross are the memories.
Hey, can everyone stop mentioning sex of any kind - and anything even vaguely related to it. It's getting the hypocrites all worked up and screaming about how disgusting and filthy and bad and dirty everything is. Thanks.
13 comments:
Now I see why the area is so run down - we don't believe in a God- and we are being punished for it
.
I can feel either a hymn or the blues coming on. Oh Lawdy. I suppose the people of Chechnya mustn't believe in God either. But why did that beautiful old church in Melbourne burn down the other night? Surely god would have saved it?
Isn’t it interesting that in the age group 0-19 that in Sydney it represents 21% and in the 2011 postcode it represents 11%. What a frightening drop from the census in the 1980’s when children grew up in the area.
Is this social engineering in that the predominantly gay councillors of South Sydney promoted the building of small bed sitters and gay campaigner Clover Moore attracted huge numbers of these people into the area.
I don’t care what your sexual orientation is. Its just an observation.
Weird? Youbetcha!
Personally, I love living in an area which isn't full of screaming brats. Don't know if you've noticed, but the planet is way overpopulated. Why do you think it's a problem that one small area of Sydney is oriented towards adult living rather than endless breeding? Isn't that diversity? By the way, I'm not gay, I'm an empty-nester who thought a suburban house with a yard was a better place to bring up kids.
I think the use of the word diversity to describe this area is incorrect. There are gays and children and single people in all suburbs. It’s the distribution of them in the 2011 postcode which is of interest.
And as the previous writer said its the changing demographics which should be examined.
I understand that once there were many children in the area. It would be of interest to find out why they are no longer here (yes I know they grew up) and the residency of the children who attend the local schools.
By 'diversity' I meant that the 2011 demographics create an area with a different flavour than most suburbs, which is more 'diverse' than if they were all similar. Spend an hour in Darlinghurst Road, then an hour in Military Rd Mosman. Thank god they're different! And isn't that why most of us live here rather than there?
I'd be interested to learn why people who don't like the Cross move here, and what right they have to try to sanitise it. A bit like the move-next-door-to-a-pub-then-complain-about-the-noise syndrome. Or Luna Park. This is what kills diversity.
I'd also like to know why people choose to live in an area they don't seem to like. Particularly when there are plenty of suburbs that fit their requirements exactly without them having to want to change a thing. I'm also fascinated to see these people suddenly claiming their address as Kings Cross, when 5 years ago none of them would have dreamed of adimtting to any address other than Potts Point.
You seem to miss the point. I was one who moved into the Cross (actually Potts Point) in the late 70’s. It was fantastic. Great shopping (you could buy a shirt-shoes-a gold ring-fresh fruit from a choice of stores-a camera from two camera stores or enjoy a coffee at anyone of about 15 café’s along Darlinghurst Rd and there were delicatessens. There was a Woolworths. In addition there was a fantastic night life from the abundance of hotel guests and hotel employees. People came from all over Sydney to enjoy the vibrancy of the area. From one end of Darlinghurst Rd to the other there were musicians playing or preaching. The streets were packed. The traffic backed all the way down William St to the City.
By the late 1980’s police corruption was endemic and drugs and street prostitution took over the area. I am offended by statements such as” if you don’t like it why did you come here”? I loved the area, it changed not me. There are so many of us getting older and hoping that it may return to what it once was.
Then there the other people who were attracted to the area, Those who arrived in the 90’s. They were attracted to the sleeze. The dirty run down shops the prostitution and the destitute. Remember the Cross preceded Double Bay. In its own time it was the upmarket and fashion area of Sydney. Things change. Double Bay is on the decline and other areas are on the up and up. When I was a child, Paddington and Newtown were sleezville. Now it’s the Cross’s turn. I find it offensive that people talk down parts of the North Shore such as Mosman. This reverse snobbery of “I cannot afford that , so you are all up yourselves” serves no purpose than to show up inferiority.
Some of us like clean and elegant, some like dirty and grimy. That is the nature of humanity. Some people strive to better themselves others like the status quo.
Today here are no traffic jams back to the City to get to the Cross. The hotels closed because they were empty. Sleeze repelled the locals and tourists . And guess what? The apartments are not selling. Yes there are plenty of new buildings in Potts Point but no one wants to live there. Ask the real estate agents. Who wins? Unfortunately no one. We are all losers. Who do we blame? Those people who could not solve the problems.
Remember that Sartore only wanted to return it to what it was. The streets were once elegant and friendly. Today it is just one dirty run down god forsaken hole.
I like the above comment, even though it disagrees with my view. It is certainly a view I have often heard put and it is great to have this debate.
We all mourn the Cross of old. The point now is, what is the best way forward?
Mr Sartor's plans to make the Cross a clone of the city is certainly not the way. People travel to difference, not sameness according to iconic urbanist Jane Jacobs.
I note we now have a Woolworths as well as Coles but the migration of the banks to Macleay St means that will be the new retail magnet. Hopefully you will be able to buy your shirts etc down there, if you can afford the price-tag.
I would love to know the definition of 'sleeze' please. Without including any judgemental statements.
Whatever your definition, I think to blame the downturn of The Cross on 'sleeze' confuses, partly at least, cause and effect. There are larger forces at work since our friend moved here in the 70s. Darling Harbour. The rise of Oxford St and Paddo. Fox Studios. Georges and Paxtons camera stores. The international tourism downturn. Closure of hotels (although we have just had the Formule One open up). The big department stores 15 minutes walk away. Personally I have no trouble buying a shirt. There are about 100 shirt shops within a pleasant stroll.
This has just made the human beings you describe as 'sleeze' more visible, and let's grant that some of these people may have arrived to fill the vacuum. However the cops have been systematically 'ethnic cleansing' the undesirables for over a year now, especially from Fitzroy gardens. There is not much more of it here than anywhere else, unless you refer to our gorgeously tacky strip clubs that save the place from the fate of Glebe, which is utterly dead by 9.30pm.
The way forward is NOT to kill the Cross as is being systematically attempted at the moment. It is to grow the good and interesting elements that are there, thus diluting, displacing and disguising the 'sleeze'.
Hence our opposition to the Sartor clone plan, and our suggestions to spend OUR millions on visibly enhancing the European charm still evident in many streets, and the amazing history and culture of the place. Dare I mention Bohemia, but I prefer the term demimonde. I have specific, inexpensive suggestions for this that would get mentions in all the guide books -- free marketing forever!
But this is far too lateral for the powers that be with their love of big money solutions.
Anyway... to be continued!
I moved here as a teenager in the 70's as well and the writer above reminds me of just how wonderful the Cross was. I'd also like to see it return to the days when it was charming and elegant by day - but not at the expense of it's nightlife.
The great concern in all this is that neither Lucy Turnbull/Sartor in her Clean-up-the-Cross scheme, nor any of the local business/heritage groups have ever acknowledged that the Cross has a nightlife. No mention in any of their visions of fabulous new nightclubs, bars, theatres - or dare I mention new strip clubs or adult venues. Frankly, if there was a choice, I'd sooner see it dead in the daytime and partying all night - New Orleans style. I can shop anywhere.
I moved here as a teenager in the 70's as well and the writer above reminds me of just how wonderful the Cross was. I'd also like to see it return to the days when it was charming and elegant by day - but not at the expense of it's nightlife.
The great concern in all this is that neither Lucy Turnbull/Sartor in her Clean-up-the-Cross scheme, nor any of the local business/heritage groups have ever acknowledged that the Cross has a nightlife. No mention in any of their visions, of fabulous new nightclubs, bars, theatres - or dare I mention new and better strip clubs or adult venues. (The local heritage society for instance seems to actively oppose any DA related to an entertainment venue - and usually for reasons that have nothing to do with heritage). These few individuals don't want to see the Cross live again by day and by night - they have a different agenda that's entirely fun-free.
Frankly, if I had to make a choice, I'd sooner see the Cross boarded up in the daytime and partying all night - New Orleans style. As for shopping - I can do that anywhere.
They are not strip clubs. They are brothels. Can’t you see the ambulances were always called to revive the overdosed girls. Remember Turnbull wanted them closed because the spa’s were infested, the towels were filthy and condoms were littering the floors. There are serious health issues here. They are not clubs in the European sense. Their owners are those creeps hanging about in their dirty jeans in the street. They are pimps who have doormen on brothel commission. They have no idea about clean, and classy.
Fabulous bars , nightclubs, theatres in the Cross? Name two of each? Walk down the street and look at one dirty run down shop after another. Look at every dirty run down strip place. The Cross is dead man. The only good thing about the Cross are the memories.
Hey, can everyone stop mentioning sex of any kind - and anything even vaguely related to it. It's getting the hypocrites all worked up and screaming about how disgusting and filthy and bad and dirty everything is. Thanks.
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