Council gives thumbs up to bars closing at 4 a.m.

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West Hollywood’s City Council voted to pass a resolution in support of state Sen. Scott Weiner’s bill to delay last call until 4 a.m. for local bars. Here are some notable quotes from their meeting Monday night:

“I know we always say, look, if you go live by the Rainbow District, then you already knew what you were buying into. But what you were buying into was a 2 a.m. closing time. We already have issues of safety; we have nightlife safety that we’re trying to figure. We’re still trying to figure out issues with druggings. Increasing the time of bars being open to 4 a.m. in my opinion is too much for our residents.”
— MAYOR PRO TEM SEPI SHYNE, who voted against the resolution

“I do support it in this stage because, again, we’re not opening bars until 4 a.m. It’s just saying that if (the bill) does pass, we have that authority to do it (then).”
— COUNCILMEMBER JOHN ERICKSON, who voted in favor of the resolution

“It would be much different if my neighbor kept me up till 2:45 in the morning — I would call the sheriff and ask them to come and shut it down. But to have (people) walking by, having a good time … that’s a different kind of experience.”
— COUNCILMEMBER JOHN D’AMICO

“I didn’t support it the first time this came around this council, and I don’t support it now. And I’m really tired of (West Hollywood) being a Petri dish for Scott Weiner and the State, and every little whim that they come up with.” 
— MAYOR LAUREN MEISTER, , who voted against the resolution

“Who’s gonna look after all these extra drunks at 4 am? What, are we getting into bed at seven? Now please please, please do not do this. We don’t need people from all over the rest of Los Angeles County coming here to get smashed.”
— Public commenter DAVID MERMELSTEIN

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CHLOE ROSS
2 years ago

Betcha “Last Call for Alcohol” – as done by the Blue Brothers has a new life in WeHo.

Jeff Luna
Jeff Luna
2 years ago

Defund the police and add an additional two hours of alcohol consumption…these bureaucrats are genius!!! Why bother to stay in high school, anyone with an IQ of 40 is perfect for politics in California!

Harley Robert
Harley Robert
2 years ago

Just what we need: more drunks and alcohol quality of life related issues.

Ruby
Ruby
2 years ago

Lunatic Mayor Pro Tem Sepi Shyne votes against this resolution saying the reason is that: “We already have issues of safety; we have nightlife safety that we’re trying to figure. We’re still trying to figure out issues with druggings. Increasing the time of bars being open to 4 a.m. in my opinion is too much for our residents”, yet she also lead the vote to defund the Los Angeles County Sheriff, taking 5 Deputies off patrol in West Hollywood?! Incredible! She is a complete and utter buffoon! Will a responsible Council Member PLEASE initiate the impeachment procedure and get this… Read more »

JRBirdsong
JRBirdsong
2 years ago
Reply to  Ruby

 Sepi Shyne is a primary reason to VOTE next Election Day and get her OUT! Forever

John
John
2 years ago

This seems all about the money.

C.R.
C.R.
2 years ago
Reply to  John

But the opposite would be about curtailing the amount that the business community can potentially generate solely by restricting their hours to make sales. To tell a business that they are not allowed to make sales during certain random hours of the day is something of a joke.

Kurt
Kurt
2 years ago

Why TWO extra hours? Why not just one, and see how it goes? Try closing at 3am Thurs – Saturday.

Randy
Randy
2 years ago
Reply to  Kurt

They have that option. It is at the city’s discretion.

JRBirdsong
JRBirdsong
2 years ago
Reply to  Kurt

LOGICAL. Baby Step. THE biggest problem I foresee with longer bar operating hours: more time for people to get drunk = more probability they will drive drunk and/or cause damage to the area. Let’s be candid, drunks are not the most responsible people. Especially so many of these patrons are from outside WeHo and do not care about WeHo.

Edie
Edie
2 years ago

Who voted for these morons?

Kathy
Kathy
2 years ago
Reply to  Edie

Good question!

CHLOE ROSS
2 years ago
Reply to  Edie

It wasn’t I.

Overdue
Overdue
2 years ago

A little clarification.
The bill would allow bars to CLOSE at 4:00.
This means last call is 3:30 and they start kicking people out right after so the bar is empty with doors locked at 4:00.
Currently that happens at 1:30, which is quite early for a major city.
And I believe this will be Friday & Saturday only.
Talk about over reaction… Those who voted against don’t really understand what Weho is all about.

Ryan Gierach
2 years ago
Reply to  Overdue

So, who are you? Why don’t you use your name? What’s your interest in this issue? Why should anybody give your comments credibility?
I make that to be four questions.

B Owner
B Owner
2 years ago
Reply to  Ryan Gierach

I own all the bars through various shell companies and will make loads of money while my customers are peeing and throwing up in the alleys behind SMB.

Times Up
Times Up
2 years ago
Reply to  Ryan Gierach

Your time was up several years ago yet here you are again pontificating.🙄

Overdue
Overdue
2 years ago
Reply to  Ryan Gierach

My name is Doug. You don’t know me. I live in West Hollywood and work in television. Not sure why any of this matters. My interest is, I go out. I have a life. When I travel to places like NY, Miami, Vegas, Chicago, or Atlanta all the bars close at 4:00. Just makes sense for West Hollywood not to close so early. We’re not rural Iowa. As has been pointed out on this website, even in Indiana bars don’t close until 3:00am. As it is now (and I know this because I go out) last call is around 1:30… Read more »

Ham Shipey
Ham Shipey
2 years ago
Reply to  Overdue

making coffee isn’t a job

Overdue
Overdue
2 years ago
Reply to  Ham Shipey

Tell that to the 350,000 baristas who work at Starbucks alone. And I’m a network VP in my 30s. Thanks.

Joshua88
Joshua88
2 years ago

Chicken Little: The sky is falling!!!!!

O, my.

WeHoRay
WeHoRay
2 years ago

This will NOT help the incredibly HUGE problem of safety in Weho.

Ham Shipey
Ham Shipey
2 years ago

And they cut the number of police officers. Doubling down on dumb ideas used to be Santa Monica’s thing.

The Council is like the stars wars bar scene.

Davedi
Davedi
2 years ago

If people are now going to be coming home at 5am maybe that guaranteed basic income is a good idea…it was deemed unconstitutional to give it only to LGBTQ etc but maybe that can give it to party animals who can’t make it to work on a Monday mornings.