Post in Keeping bars open longer for the RNC

Apr 05 15:08 UTC

Hi All,

Just an update:

Yesterday, the Minneapolis city council voted 9-3 to allow bars to be open is
the state approved the measure.  Below is the article in the St. Paul Pioneer
Press.

It seems Rep. Phyllis Kahn and the Minneapolis City Council feels that keeping
the bars open during the RNC convention this will be good for business in
Minneapolis.

I find Dave Thune’s statement highly offensive, "a bunch of puking Republican
lobbyists on the streets at 4 in the morning."  I think St. Paul should be
trying to attract business instead of turning business away.

One call I received yesterday stated the following, “I moved to downtown for
the nightlife, but what I got was a dead city.”

To Mike Schoenberg, I am still waiting for some documentation for your
statement that the added police cost will be $500,000.00 if bars stayed open an
extra two hours during the RNC convention or was this just a number you pulled
out of the air.

It seems that there are some elected officials in St. Paul who are opposed to
everything associated with the RNC just because it is the RNC.  This would be a
non-issue if it were the DNC.

Sincerely,

John Krenik
Highland Park, St. Paul, Minnesota

Twin Cities split on late bar closings
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 04/05/2008 12:27:34 AM CDT

Is a bar brawl brewing over Republican National Convention partygoers?

In stark contrast to a decision by St. Paul city leaders days before, the
Minneapolis City Council has voted to approve possible later bar hours during
the RNC.

The idea was introduced at the Legislature last week by Rep. Phyllis Kahn,
DFL-Minneapolis, who put forth a measure to allow bars within a 10-mile radius
of the Xcel Energy Center to remain open until 4 a.m. from Aug. 29 through
Sept. 8. The convention is slated for Sept. 1-4 at the center.

On Friday, the Minneapolis City Council voted 9-3 in support of the later
hours, should the measure pass the Legislature — but retained the right to
decide which days and areas of the city would be included.

On Wednesday, St. Paul's City Council voted 4-3 to nix the late bar hours, if
they pass. At the time, Council Member Dave Thune, who represents downtown,
said he was concerned about "a bunch of puking Republican lobbyists on the
streets at 4 in the morning." Others worried about police costs.

Several St. Paul bar owners have expressed concern over Minneapolis approving
the later hours and St. Paul denying them. They fear a competitive disadvantage
— especially when vying to attract convention-goers looking to book private
parties.

Tad Vezner