News

By Sallie James

    Last call for alcohol in this city will remain at 2 a.m.
    Boca Raton officials mulling a plan to extend late-night drinking hours downtown balked after learning 17 businesses would qualify under a revised proposal.
    They scuttled the plan during a Nov. 10 workshop after grim warnings from police about increased crime.
    “It has a tremendous amount of unintended consequences,” said Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Constance Scott, who initially supported the extended hours. “It could have a potentially deleterious impact on the quality of our downtown. I think we could change the quality of our image in a very, very short amount of time.”
    City officials considered the issue after Jazziz Nightlife, in Mizner Park, asked to keep its doors open two hours later than currently allowed to better serve its late-night clientele. The upscale nightclub regularly books notable entertainers and musicians.
    Council members initially considered a six-month pilot that would apply only to Jazziz. However, they decided to consider a revised plan that defined eligibility using distance parameters so the proposal would be legally defensible.
    They became uneasy when a distance parameter of 275 feet from residential development turned up 17 qualifying businesses. When the distance was reduced to 175 feet, 22 qualified.
    According to Boca Raton Police Chief Daniel Alexander, the lion’s share of aggravated batteries, domestic disturbances and simple batteries occur in the early morning hours.
    He showed the council a slew of arrest statistics related to two existing Boca bars that remain open until 5 a.m. because they were annexed into the city.
    The statistics had been compiled by the Boca Raton Police Department. That news, combined with the higher number of qualifying businesses, was enough to sour the council on the idea of extended hours.
    “I don’t want to turn into a Fort Lauderdale or a Cancun,” council member Scott Singer said. He didn’t like the original proposal because it was exclusive to Jazziz. And the revised proposal was too lenient for him.
    Numerous residents also spoke out against the proposed extended drinking hours, expressing concern about the potential of increased crime, noise and traffic accidents.
    “Nothing good happens in the wee hours of the morning,” warned resident Al Zucaro. Creating an environment so one business can thrive to the detriment to others is not the city’s purpose,” Zucaro said.
    “The downtown has never been more vibrant and the momentum has never been more on our side,” said downtown resident George O’Rourke.
    “We don’t need a 4 a.m. closing and the associated problems that come with us,” O’Rourke added.
    Jazziz owner Michael Fagien said his intent has always been to bring “a world-class bona-fide entertainment establishment,” to Boca Raton. Fagien said he may consider moving his business somewhere that allows extended hours.