Local
Council cuts one hour from inaugural last call
December 17, 2008
Bars and restaurants will stop serving alcohol at 4 a.m. instead of 5 a.m. during the week of President-elect Barack Obama’s inaugural festivities, after the D.C. City Council voted Tuesday night to amend its earlier decision.
Establishments will also need to notify the city’s Alcoholic Beverage Control board and the Metropolitan Police Department of their intent to remain open, and pay a small fee to the city — $250 for nightclubs and $100 for bars and restaurants. Accordingly, Police Chief Cathy Lanier will have the authority to take back the privilege of extended hours should late-night patrons misbehave.
The amendment changes slightly the emergency legislation passed on Dec. 2 allowing bars, restaurants and nightclubs to remain open around the clock from Jan. 17 through Jan. 21, and serve alcohol until the early hours of the morning.
Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells, who sponsored the amendment with Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas Jr., said Tuesday’s move came in response to concerns from residents and members of advisory neighborhood commissions.
“We’re very happy that the council decided to make the changes,” said Wells’ Chief of Staff Charles Allen. “Part of what we wanted to do is make sure we added some public safety measures into the extended hours.”
Snippy debate between council members annoyed with each other, and with members of Congress who had weighed in on the measure, preceded the amendment’s passage.
At-large Councilman Phil Mendelson, the legislation’s only consistent opponent, reiterated his concerns that police forces and public transit will be stretched beyond capacity and won’t need the added burden of drunken crowds at 4 a.m.
“Law enforcement is looking at January 20 as possibly the largest event in U.S. history,” Mendelson said, adding that any extra D.C. police personnel called for the inaugural week will be unavailable, because they’ll already be working 12-hour shifts.
Thomas taunted Mendelson to produce a report backing up his assertion. When Mendelson produced copies of e-mails and press releases, Thomas belittled them as unofficial.
At-large Councilman David Catania was critical of members of Congress who came out against the original legislation, including members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
“I’m astonished by how many members of Congress want to play councilman,” Catania said. “One would think we’re not in the middle of the biggest financial meltdown.”
Establishments will also need to notify the city’s Alcoholic Beverage Control board and the Metropolitan Police Department of their intent to remain open, and pay a small fee to the city — $250 for nightclubs and $100 for bars and restaurants. Accordingly, Police Chief Cathy Lanier will have the authority to take back the privilege of extended hours should late-night patrons misbehave.
The amendment changes slightly the emergency legislation passed on Dec. 2 allowing bars, restaurants and nightclubs to remain open around the clock from Jan. 17 through Jan. 21, and serve alcohol until the early hours of the morning.
Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells, who sponsored the amendment with Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas Jr., said Tuesday’s move came in response to concerns from residents and members of advisory neighborhood commissions.
“We’re very happy that the council decided to make the changes,” said Wells’ Chief of Staff Charles Allen. “Part of what we wanted to do is make sure we added some public safety measures into the extended hours.”
Snippy debate between council members annoyed with each other, and with members of Congress who had weighed in on the measure, preceded the amendment’s passage.
At-large Councilman Phil Mendelson, the legislation’s only consistent opponent, reiterated his concerns that police forces and public transit will be stretched beyond capacity and won’t need the added burden of drunken crowds at 4 a.m.
“Law enforcement is looking at January 20 as possibly the largest event in U.S. history,” Mendelson said, adding that any extra D.C. police personnel called for the inaugural week will be unavailable, because they’ll already be working 12-hour shifts.
Thomas taunted Mendelson to produce a report backing up his assertion. When Mendelson produced copies of e-mails and press releases, Thomas belittled them as unofficial.
At-large Councilman David Catania was critical of members of Congress who came out against the original legislation, including members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
“I’m astonished by how many members of Congress want to play councilman,” Catania said. “One would think we’re not in the middle of the biggest financial meltdown.”
