Minneapolis backs later bar closings for GOP convention

Last update: April 4, 2008 - 9:31 PM

Print this story

More from Political Conventions

Minneapolis now officially supports legislation that allows later drinking hours during the Republican National Convention -- but only if the City Council decides where and when.

The City Council's stance, adopted Friday on a 9-3 vote, rejects its own committee's advice to take no position and puts the city at odds with St. Paul, whose council rejected later hours on Wednesday.

If the state bill passes, either city can change its mind, since the 4 a.m. closing bill by DFL Rep. Phyllis Kahn requires local approval to implement.

"We can be a cold Omaha or we can stand up and be a 24-hour city," said downtown DFL Council Member Lisa Goodman.

"I'm just shocked to see so much hysteria and misinformation on something that would be good for downtown," she said.

The bill allows the city to extend its usual 2 a.m. bar closing and allows packaged liquor to be sold on Sundays during an 11-day period around the convention. The council wants the power to limit where the late hours would be allowed and on what days.

Supporters want to allow later drinking downtown and in hotel bars elsewhere in the city. They equated late drinking hours with being a great city.

Opponents noted police testimony earlier this week that cops already will be stretched to staff convention duties and patrol the city, and said later hours wouldn't be a good mix with University of Minnesota students returning to campus.

Mayor R.T. Rybak said he's concerned by "derogatory messages" by St. Paul DFL Council Member Dave Thune about "puking Republican lobbyists."

"I want to roll out the red carpet," Rybak said.

Before the final vote, the council voted 8 to 4 for Goodman's pro-Kahn position over the Intergovernmental Relations Committee's no-position stance.

Voting no were DFLer Betsy Hodges, Green Party member Cam Gordon, DFLer Diane Hofstede and DFLer Paul Ostrow.

Animal ordinances

The council also voted to boost the fine for unlicensed but sterilized dogs and cats from $25 to $100, or more than the $30 licensing fee for compliance. It's part of a group of increases in animal ordinance violations.

STEVE BRANDT

Recent Political Conventions stories

Intent on strong response to Gustav, Bush off to Texas to meet with relief workers, evacuees - April 4, 2008

Intent on strong response to Gustav, Bush off to Texas to meet with relief workers, evacuees - As Hurricane Gustav threatens the Gulf Coast, President Bush is out to show the nation that his government has learned the haunting lessons of Katrina and is ready to act. That includes a rapid response by Bush himself, who will be planted near the danger zone even before the storm hits home. More

Comment on this story | Read all 46 comments | Hide reader comments

The Whistleblower blog has moved

The Star Tribune is still blowing the whistle, but our look and location have changed. Click here to get to the new blog. If you want the actual URL, it’s www.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower.html. Our blog posts will now be easier to search on the web site, but you’ll need to register to post a comment. In the [...]