Growing up as a teenager in North Alabama an often-told joke reverberated about the snail pace of local politics. The punch-line still rings true 20 years later, "Huntsville! The little city that couldn't."

Recently, this phrase came to mind when I heard the meager entertainment district hours proposed by the city: a laughable Thursday and Friday from 5-10 in the evening.

Oh, Huntsville! Still the little city that couldn't.

If you are unfamiliar with the proposed entertainment district, nicknamed Quigley, imagine this scenario: You are seated on the patio at Pane e Vino – overlooking Big Spring Park with a group of friends – while enjoying a delicious pizza and carafe of wine.

Slated to begin in June, the proposed entertainment district makes it legal for you to walk away from a restaurant or bar with an adult beverage. This, however, is allowed only on Thursday and Friday nights until 10 p.m.

Let's take this Pane e Vino scenario one step further. You have tickets to the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. You – along with your friends – grab your wine from Pane e Vino and stroll through the lovely downtown park, excited to soak up some classical music and culture.

Only, horror of all horrors! You've forgotten; HSO concerts only show on Saturday. This is not a designated night. Instead of a cosmopolitan evening out with friends, you are now stopped by police, embarrassed, and ticketed.

So, Huntsville, I've gotta ask: What entertainment district? Because it is sounding like a stuffy, intimidation district.

Planning and Zoning Administration Manager Marie Bostick was recently quoted in news articles defending the city's decision to limit Quigley to a cumulative 10 hours a week, and one weekend night.

Bostick's main gripe, as published in The Huntsville Times last week is, "We need to figure out the logistics and make sure we have the resources in place to handle everything."

Read between the lines, citizens. We are talking about police enforcement.

Fortunately for Huntsville, we have three Alabama cities to model our entertainment district after. Existing districts in Montgomery, Mobile and Decatur have had great success with bicycle police.

With no need to reinvent the proverbial wheel, I strongly believe we should follow the examples set by Montgomery, Mobile, and – yes, our dear neighbor, Decatur – in launching Quigley. Here is a fun fact for you. Guess how many days a week these three locales allow operation of the entertainment district? All are open seven days a week.

The result? Not Beale Street in Memphis, 6th Street in Austin, or Bourbon Street in New Orleans. In fact, according to reports, the three districts in Alabama have seen downtown vitality and business growth, increased tourism and tax revenues, and vibrant street performance emerge organically. Best of all, these cities also report a boost in attracting and retaining a young professional workforce.

While Huntsville has made great strides toward being "the little city that could" during the past 10 years, in truth, our city still lacks that je ne sais quoi that attracts and retains young professionals.

With Huntsville known around the world as tech-savvy and with the fond moniker, the 'Rocket City,' what is the harm in creating recreation and nightlife to match our high-tech image?

Creating a common downtown space that brings residents together in a fun and entertaining environment would do wonders for Huntsville. Not only would Quigley increase the revenue stream to local businesses, and sales tax to the city itself, above all else, it will make Huntsville a smart place to live, work, play and STAY. This is why I, as president of the Huntsville Young Professionals – along with five other downtown groups, including the The Arts Council, Inc.; Committee of 100, Downtown 47, Downtown Huntsville, Inc.; and Belk Hudson Lofts developer Charlie Sealy – have united to request the City Council expand the Quigley entertainment district hours.

As a coalition, we respectfully ask that Quigley hours last from noon until midnight on Thursday through Saturday.

Extended hours would accomplish three important tasks:

- Open the district to the large number of hospitality workers who would benefit from a district open on days they are not working. Let's be inclusive, folks.

- Create an easily communicated marketing message for locals and tourists about when the district is open, and when it is not.

- With the addition of Saturday hours, community groups, such as the Art's Council and the Downtown 47, have offered to help fund a new program called Arts & Animation, thus further revitalizing downtown.

In my opinion, if you really want to see downtown boom, extend Quigley hours to seven days a week. Huntsville, I truly hope you will show me you are finally the little city that can.

Bronwen Murray is president of a 4,500-member group of 21-to-40-year-olds, the Huntsville Young Professionals.