The position follows European examples like London Night Czar Amy Lamé.

A New York City councilman has drafted legislation to create an Office Of Nightlife that would seek to protect DIY spaces and venues across the city.

As Gothamist reports, Rafael Espinal has drawn up plans for a “night mayor” who would help ensure the survival of smaller independent art spaces, while also working as a liaison between City Hall and New York’s $10 billion nightlife industry.

“What I imagine the office doing is finding ways we can be helpful in creating a business-friendly environment that supports nightlife,” Espinal told Gothamist. “And I want to make sure that we’re not a city where artists’ ability to express themselves is hindered by bureaucracy.”

Espinal, who represents parts of Bushwick, East New York, Brownsville and Cypress Hills, cited the closure of Brooklyn venue Shea Stadium as a catalyst for the legislation. “I feel like these venues are facing a whole array of issues, getting up to code, and also dealing with pressures of real estate market here in New York,” he said. “We’ve gotten to the point where the only venues who are able to survive in this city are the high end nightclubs in the Meatpacking district, or places with similar business models.”

No potential candidates for the position have been announced as yet but Espinal says they must have “experience frequenting a DIY venue.”

Last June, beloved DIY space Palisades was shut down by the New York Police Department. In recent years, the venue had hosted live shows by a range of electronic acts and DJs that adhered to a similar DIY spirit as 285 Kent, which shut down in 2014.