Proposal: Close all Saratoga Springs bars by 2 a.m.
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Tuesday night city council members will listen to a presentation that suggests the Spa City should require all it's bars close by 2 a.m. instead of the 4 a.m. New York State law they operate under now.
John Franck who serves as the accounts commissioner for the city says first and foremost it's a public safety issue. Secondly he suggests the city will save money.
Between 2007 - 2009 Saratoga dealt with 80 workers comp claims in which 18 of those came between the hours of 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. He tells CBS 6 that the city will save on overtime and insurance premiums by just closing the bars two hours earlier.
On the street Monday a whole lot of people had varying takes on the proposal.
"I understand why they're doing this but I just don't know if it's necessary. I could see how that is a time where problems start," says Brendan Flanigan.
"For safety reasons and all that and to keep people out of trouble absolutely I could see it. Financial reasons I could also see that too" says Zach Rossi.
"I feel it will be bad for business because here people go out later and spend money later. This is a late night town" says Jessica Sparks.
Michael Morrison who visits Trotters on Caroline Street quite often says when he lived on Long Island in the 1980's they tried the same law there. " The slogan was 'For the Two, Not For You'. It didn't fly and it's not gonna fly here either. Any city council member who votes for this can almost gurantee they won't be a city council member next time around" says Morrison.
City Council members will listen to a presentation on the idea Tuesday night. The public will get a chance to weigh-in in early May with a vote not likely to happen until late May.
If this passes the 2am rule would not apply from Memorial day through Labor day. The bars would be allowed to stay open until 4:00am during that time.
