The Long Beach City Council voted 7-2, Tuesday night, in favor of initiating a study that may consider closing five Second Street bars at midnight.
Council Gary DeLong of Long Beach’s 3rd district stated that he does not wish to limit operating hours for the five restaurant/bars, but many have voiced concerns that the councilmen is attempting to end alcohol sale at the five bars before the district’s regular 2 a.m. closing time, a Facebook event created by Legends indicates.
The vote allows the Long Beach Planning Commission to study the status of Belmont Shore restaurant/bars Acapulco Inn, Legends, Dogz, Shannon’s and Panama Joe’s as well as the patrons they serve.
DeLong introduced the topic at the city’s weekly council meetings while reading numerous complaints sent to him by Belmont Shore residents.
The complaints consist of public urination, defecation in alleyways adjacent to homes, loud noise at early morning hours, finding vomit on sidewalks, trash in lawns and an increased police presence.
Councilwoman Rae Gabelich of Long Beach’s 8th district thought DeLong’s request for an in-depth study was too vague. Gabelich requested a sub-motion to vote on the Second Street issue at the meeting, but did not receive the second motion needed to garner a vote.
To further justify the study, DeLong called on Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell to present citation figures from Oct. 2009 to Oct. 2010 related to the five Second Street bars. Of the five, Legends’ patrons received the most public intoxication arrests with 81.
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