Eight is Enough

Identified as a safety issue, the Bowling Green, OH, City Council has proposed the adoption of a law which would limit the number of occupants to eight per bedroom if the living unit has only one exit. A member of the city council, Stan Bortel, said he "proposed the ordinance to make living situations in Bowling Green safer for everyone." He was prompted by the fact that, while tagging along with the police, they stopped at an apartment building "and it was so packed you could barely get through the hallway." Mr. Bortel also stated:

"This is not an issue about drinking or partying or underage consumption. This is simply a safety issue."

If this is not a textbook example of triangulation, it should be. I need to mention that Bowling Green is a small college town, home of Bowling Green State University, and my take is that certain city leaders perceive a problem with too many wild parties and they want them toned down. Since partying is not necessarily illegal, I think they're proposing to slap the party throwers with violations of a city ordinance and thereby put a chill on future party plans. Anyone who gets assessed with a fine for too many occupants in an apartment will be counting heads next time around.

A heated controversy has surfaced with the opposition feeling that the proposed ordinance unfairly targets students. Well, DUH!

The story was reported by Asst. News Editor Scott Niles of the BGNews which also offers an opinion piece.

I think it's odd that one aspect that should be salient concerning the proposed ordinance is not even under discussion. How is the ordinance going to be enforced? Bedroom police?