Keeping Bars Open Until 4 a.m. in Sherman Oaks? What Do You Think?

There’s a bill being introduced in the state legislature that could allow the sale of alcohol in bars and nightclubs to be sold until 4 a.m.

Daniel Savage of newly-elected Adrin Nazarian's office, said the bill is a long way off from the assembly's office, but told Patch that Nazarian is already "concerned about how this will impact drunk driving." He said that the assemblyman, who lives in Sherman Oaks, will "interact a lot with local police and the Neighborhood Councils before he takes a position."

Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian released the following statement on SB 635, state Sen. Mark Leno’s bill that could lengthen by two hours the amount of time restaurants and nightclubs can continue serving alcohol:

"I have grave concerns about a Sacramento proposal that would allow restaurants and nightclubs to continue serving alcohol until 4 a.m. Along Ventura Boulevard and other busy streets throughout Los Angeles, we’ve too often seen the tragedies that are caused by drunk drivers in the dead of night. Giving drivers two more hours to consume alcohol runs counter to our responsibility to the residents of this city. If this bill does pass, I will explore every possibility for maintaining our city’s ability to protect public safety on our streets and peace and quiet in our neighborhoods."

Lisa Sarkin, who is the chairman of th eLand Use Committee of the Studio City Neighborhood Council, said, “I understand that it may be very appropriate for some communities to make their own decisions to allow bars and nightclubs to remain open until 4 in the morning, but Studio City is a bedroom community and there are residential properties all around those clubs. It is not for us.”

In fact, the Land Use Committee often requests restrictions of local restaurants and nightclubs to times that are more stringent than state law now permits, by requesting agreements with the businesses to align with neighborhood concerns. Sometimes, city departments can overrule the volunteer committee's recommendations for the Conditional Use Permits, but generally, nightclubs and restaurants will try to work with the Neighborhood Council.

Arnon Raphael, who owns Raphael Restaurant, and whose daughter Shoshana is a recently-elected member of the Studio City Neighborhood Council, said, "This will not affect our business, we would never ask to stay open so late, but I don't know if it will make much difference. A drunk driver could be leaving at 2 a.m. or 4 a.m."

The idea is being sparked by State Senator from San Francisco, Mark Leno, who said that the idea could extend the last call for alcohol in certain large California cities and help boost the economy.

The change would create more jobs,  please the tourists and make major cities in the state more competitive with cities like Las Vegas, New York and Miami, Leno said.

According to the Los Angeles Times:

"This legislation would allow destination cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego to start local conversations about the possibility of expanding night life and the benefits it could provide the community by boosting jobs, tourism and local tax revenue,'' Leno said.

Leno's proposal is "terrible,'' said Alan Dymond, president of the Studio City Residents Association. Dymond said many clubs and restaurants along Ventura Boulevard back up to homes affected by noise and traffic at closing time.

"For our members, that extension of hours would just increase the aggravation,'' Dymond said.

The new law would allow the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to extend the sale of alcohol from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. for bars, nightclubs and restaurants to 4 a.m.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, according to spokesman Steve Whitmore. People, said, it isn't necessary "to have two more hours for drinking.''

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