Although it is not dead yet, a City Hall proposal by Mayor Walsh to extend bar and restaurant closing hours to 4:00 a.m., beyond the current allowed 2:00 a.m., was thwarted this week by State lawmakers in the House of Representatives. The measure initially passed the State Senate, but failed to make it into a compromise budget agreement without the support of representatives from downtown Boston, including the North End’s Rep. Aaron Michlewitz.
Yet, the possibility of later hours among other late night initiatives continues to surface. A last minute economic development package approved Tuesday night by the State Senate included the later hours measure along areas served by the MBTA. The package also includes lifting the State’s cap on liquor licenses by adding 150 more and by turning over State control of the Boston Licensing Board to City Hall.
Tell us what you think of the 4:00 a.m. extended hours for alcohol service at bars and restaurants in the above poll.
Please note that web polls are not scientific and are intended only to give NorthEndWaterfront.com readers an opportunity to express a view on community issues.
I’m surprised by the non-scientific results. I would have thought 90% of respondents would have voted against later closing times. The idea is foolish-the downtown neighborhoods have large residential components. Why should residents have to suffer? If Mayor Walsh wants to “try it out” as an experiment, great. Might I suggest Savin Hill Ave as the location.
THE NO. END IS ABOVE ALL, A VERY SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD, WE HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO DRUNKS.
URINATING, DEFECATING, REGURGITATING & FORNICATING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD NOW. OUR
ELDERLY WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD & HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF LEAVING ARE LIVING IN.
FEAR, LISTENING TO THESE DRUNKS KEEP THEM UP UNTIL 4 A.M. & LATER. THE NEIGHBORHOOD
IS OUT OF CONTROL & LOOKS MORE & MORE LIKE SODOM & GOMORRAH. BOSTON GOT PICKED.
FOR THE DRUNKEST CITY IN THE U.S. IN THE YEAR 2011, WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO EXTEND.
DRINKING HOURS WITH THIS MADNESS GOING ON, IS BEYOND ME. WE ALL KNOW MONEY IS THE ROOT.
OF ALL EVIL, AND THE CITY IS GETTING TOO GREEDY. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE THE NO. END
RESIDENTS HAVE HAD MORE THAN OUR FAIR SHARE OF GREED & LACK OF QUALITY OF LIFE THANKS.
TO OUR LAST MAYOR & WHY WOULD WE WANT A CONTINUATION OF THIS.
Now it’s a 4 a.m. proposal, I thought it was originally 3a.m. I think that the new Mayor is trying to stay one step ahead of everyone else but the problem is, he’s going in the wrong direction. So far, he hasn’t had many ups & downs because he continues to go around in circles. He doesn’t care if the residents of the city have to put up with bad behavior until 4 in the morning but doesn’t want people in this country illegally being turned over to ICE unless they have committed “serious crimes”. He never did define what “serious” was in his mind!
I don’t understand how everyone can complain about noise and places being open late.. Are you aware that you live in the city and that’s what happens here?
Cont’d–of those rude and disrespectful individuals. We are all entitled to a peaceful night’s sleep–even on weekends. NYC has in down!
N.B. 4th gen. North Ender
Visible police presence would curtail the late night bad behavior