PDA

View Full Version : Good news for party people coming to minnesota




ChrisInMN
06-26-2008, 01:00 AM
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/conventions/21623669.html?location_refer=Homepage:highlightMod ules:7

Folks in St. Paul during the Republican National Convention will be able to drink at some bars until 4 a.m.

Emphasis on some.

The St. Paul City Council on Wednesday voted 6 to 1 to approve an ordinance that will allow bars that meet certain conditions and pay $2,500 to stay open late during the four nights of the event, to be held Sept. 1-4 at the Xcel Energy Center.

About 32 bars, maybe more if they can find a way to add more seats, are eligible. There are 257 places that sell liquor, wine and beer in the city. About 90 currently have licenses to stay open until 2 a.m.

Bars must already have a 2 a.m. closing license to be eligible, and they must have at least 291 seats or be in downtown or commercial development districts, such as Selby-Dale.

If a bar without a 4 a.m. license is caught serving after 2 a.m., it faces a $2,000 fine per incident.

The restrictions were put in place to reduce the number of neighborhood bars staying open late.

"It's a good compromise," Council President Kathy Lantry said. Those restrictions, she said, will help keep police from being stretched across the city, and the fee will help the city recover added costs.

There were no toasts, just a quick and quiet vote. Council Member Lee Helgen was the lone dissenter.

The Legislature gave metro-area cities the authority to allow bars to remain open until 4 a.m. during the convention, action that came after the council had voted 4 to 3 against an earlier proposal.

Mayor Chris Coleman's office urged the council to reconsider, saying that St. Paul businesses would be at a competitive disadvantage if they couldn't stay open until 4 a.m.

Minneapolis approved a resolution last week allowing bars in the downtown area and hotels to stay open until 4 a.m. for a $2,500 fee.

The Bloomington City Council is expected to take up the matter in July.

malkusm
06-26-2008, 05:51 AM
I disagree with it, because the bars should be allowed to be open when they want, and be held responsible for anything stupid that goes on on the premises. But that's more of a philosophical thing...

I'm happy because I'll be in Minnesota and 21 by that time :D

rprprs
06-26-2008, 06:07 AM
I disagree with it, because the bars should be allowed to be open when they want, and be held responsible for anything stupid that goes on on the premises. But that's more of a philosophical thing.

I understand your point, but if a customer whacks somebody over the head or gets too touchy-feely with another patron, why should the bar be held responsible?

Now, if they're shorting the drinks, that's another matter.;)

acptulsa
06-26-2008, 06:11 AM
So there ain't nobody free but the party hacks of the G.O.P? The whole damned community is temporarily changing a law that works for them just for these fat neocons?

Well, here we all are with both fists and both feet in the Iraqi tar baby for these fat neocons, so I guess that's nothing...

malkusm
06-26-2008, 06:12 AM
I understand your point, but if a customer whacks somebody over the head or gets too touchy-feely with another patron, why should the bar be held responsible?

Now, if they're shorting the drinks, that's another matter.;)

My argument is not that the bar should be held responsible for a couple patrons who are out of line. Rather I think the bar should be held responsible if you're open until 4 AM every night, and the police have to show up 9 times out of 10. The local authorities probably have the right to fine the bar owner at that point since tax money goes to the local police force which is having to spend unnecessary amounts of time on things that could be avoided. The bar has to bear some responsibility in this case or there are no repercussions.

I'm as free market and pro-property rights as anyone but I think (as long as the law is enforced at the LOCAL level) that a minimal amount of damage control is required. Let the bar stay open, but fine them if they get more than 5 calls in a month, for example.