Earlier bar closing time a “no” for Warren County
Photo: Sakshi Sharma, Creative Commons, some rights reserved
Just after Essex County legislators passed an earlier closing time for bars there 15-1, Warren County has rejected a similar measure in a close vote by a county Board of Supervisors committee, the Glens Falls Post-Star reports. This topic has been debated for some time in the county legislature, as a response to a crime problem in Glens Falls that many felt would be ameliorated by earlier closing times.
As in Essex County, Warren County’s bars are open until 4 a.m.; an earlier proposal would have had them close at 2 a.m., but the one the committee rejected Wednesday would have had them closing at 3 a.m.
Instead of an earlier closing time, supervisors who voted against the proposal said they’d like to see the county offer Glens Falls a beefed up police presence (on the other hand, some said such a presence could be a negative for business and summer tourism.)
Others said making changes that affect all the bars in the county isn’t the answer to a crime problem that’s mostly in the South Street area of Glens Falls, and that earlier closing times could, again, hurt tourism.
County Sheriff Bud York told the paper that his office can provide help if it’s asked, but that someone’s going to have to pay for the overtime such help would entail.
Party on!
Tags: bar, county, drinking, essex county, glens falls, home rule, law, leisure, tourism, warren county
Yeah, just the type of tourists we need: people who stay in bars until 4 AM. Combine that with an increased police presence to control people and places that are repeat offenders and you’ll really have a tourist magnet on your hands. The lack of good, common sense on the Warren County Board of Supervisors is appalling.
Good. One of the things that makes us better than New England is that our bars are open later. You ever spent any time in Boston? People don’t drink less they just start earlier.
Mayor Diamond’s logic doesn’t strike me as very logical. He complains about drink-related crime, but he thinks taking two hours of income from every bar owner and bartender and two hours of time from every drinker is a better solution than a few extra cops? I think the former is a bit more akin to an “all out assault on the patrons of bars” than the latter.
First, I think we need to save some money by getting rid of the state liquor authority.
No one should need to have a license to sell legal beverages.
Everyone and anyone should be allowed to sell everything and anything 24/7/365.
Is this a free country or what?
I don’t understand why the county simply doesn’t say: the county-wide bar closing time is 4 am but municipalities are empowered to invoke home rule and closer earlier if they want. If a mayor or town supervisor wants bars closed earlier, it makes no sense to me that s/he should have to go to our dysfunctional state legislature to get that done.
I live in GF and although I don’t go out to the bar district much, but when I do, I’d never stay out past 1:30 or 2 am. Nothing good happens there between then and sunrise.
Mario: the real hypocrisy in GF is city officials talking like South St. is more dangerous than Mogadishu or Bagdhad while on the other hand, saying the city is so bucolic that we should explore getting rid of the police department.
There should be a tooth count at 2:00 am. If you have a full compliment of teeth it is time to go home, you do not belong out at that hour.
i don’t see why anyone should favor an earlier closing time. that’s only going to penalize law-abiding drinkers. the people causing problems won’t be deterred anyway and will just find another way to get their booze.