About the Office of Nightlife

The Office of Nightlife, at the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, is a liaison for New York City's nightlife industry and community to all City agencies. This Office’s purpose is to help establish and coordinate systemic solutions to support the nighttime economy, culture, and quality of life.

In September 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed legislation to establish the first ever Office of Nightlife in New York City, a bill sponsored by Council Member Rafael Espinal. The establishment of this new Office recognizes and respects the nightlife community's contributions to NYC's energy and creative spirit and to its image worldwide as the "city that never sleeps." Nightlife provides New Yorkers from all five boroughs with places to come together, celebrate and find community. In March of 2018, Ariel Palitz was appointed as the first-ever Founding Director of New York City's Office of Nightlife at the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment.

The formation of the Office of Nightlife cements New York's position as a global leader in a growing movement of more than 40 major cities around the world working to proactively manage life at night. Similar efforts in cities such as Amsterdam, London, Paris, and Berlin have yielded social benefits such as reductions in crime and noise complaints, and healthier, more productive nighttime economies.

Although the Office of Nightlife is not a reporting or enforcement agency, we are committed to working with nightlife operators, workers, performers, patrons and residents to address their challenges. Working with our partner agencies across City and State government, the Office of Nightlife is committed to promoting safe spaces and social justice, protecting grassroots cultural spaces, streamlining red tape and regulations, working with agencies to develop recommendations that help to ensure fair and proportionate enforcement, and advancing quality of life for all New Yorkers.

NY Times: New York City Appoints its First Nightlife Mayor
NY Post: De Blasio's Newest City Agency: Office of Nightlife

Our Agenda

Support Business Development & Recovery
Improve the business environment for existing and prospective operators by creating resources to assist businesses understanding of regulatory processes, and coordinate efforts of city agencies involved in managing, regulating, and promoting nightlife.
Improve Quality of Life
Strengthen relationships between venues and communities through programs and policies to manage sound, reduce traffic congestion, improve waste collection, and mediate conflicts.
Promote Safety, Equity, & Harm Reduction
Promote opportunities in nightlife for people to look out for each other through campaigns and workshops to promote harm reduction, bystander intervention, mental health awareness, and worker and patron safety.
Elevate Nightlife Culture
Preserve and protect venues that foster connection, creativity, and personal expression through programs to support cultural spaces and the New Yorkers who work and perform in them.

Leadership & Staff

José Soegaard, Deputy Director
Francesca Mirra, Strategic Planning Associate

Nightlife Advisory Board

As a complement to the newly formed Office of Nightlife, this all-volunteer, 14-member independent body, will advise the Mayor and the City Council on issues affecting the nightlife industry. Read more about the Nightlife Advisory Board.

Nightlife Reports

NYC Office of Nightlife Report 2018-2021

Office of Nightlife: 2020 Year in Review