California’s nightlife may soon receive a much-needed boost, thanks to a fresh initiative aiming to extend bar hours until 4 a.m.
This revitalization effort for the state’s languishing downtown areas is spearheaded by two San Francisco legislators. They propose allowing cities to establish designated zones where bars and eateries can operate until 4 a.m., extending the current legal closing time by two hours.
“Our state’s nightlife economy undoubtedly generates tens of billions of dollars and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs,” stated Matt Haney, a Democratic assemblyman who introduced the proposal, in an interview with CBS News.
The COVID-19 pandemic severely curtailed foot traffic in California’s downtown hubs. Although cities across the state are on the path to recovery, none have yet returned to their pre-pandemic activity levels seen in 2019.
State Senator Wiener, who collaborated with Haney on this bill, emphasized, “Reviving street life is essential for the economic resurgence of cities across California.”
He further explained that by introducing Entertainment Zones, the initiative not only incentivizes people to revisit areas with sluggish recovery but also opens up a new revenue channel for bars and restaurants.
Should the bill pass, bars would need to pay an extra $2,500 each year for a permit to sell alcohol until 4 a.m.
“When the sun goes down, there is so much that is economic and culturally important,” Haney told CBS News.
