Keeping Bars Open in NoHo Until 4 a.m.? What Do You Think?

A state senator has introduced a bill that could allow alcohol to be served in bars and nightclubs to 4 a.m., two hours later than California's set time for last call.

Morgan Margolis, president of Knitting Factory Entertainment and owner of the Federal Bar, is a New York native where 4 a.m. is already the standard cutoff time.

He says it's about time Los Angeles caught up and that he would like to keep the bar at the Federal open until 4 a.m., but he would have to see how things would add up financially.

"We [currently] can have events until 4 a.m. and serve drinks until 2 a.m.," Margolis said. "I have to see how it worked out. Would it raise your numbers in such a way that countered staff costs?"

L.A. City Councilman Paul Krekorian is more concerned about public safety.

"Giving drivers two more hours to consume alcohol runs counter to our responsibility to the residents of this city," Krekorian said. "If this bill does pass, I will explore every possibility for maintaining our city’s ability to protect public safety on our streets and peace and quiet in our neighborhoods."

But Margolis said he believes patrons drink the most between midnight and 2 a.m. because of the current last call time and that people wouldn't rush as much if they were allowed to buy drinks until 4 a.m.

The idea is being sparked by a state senator from San Francisco, Mark Leno, who said that the idea could extend the last call for alcohol in certain large California cities and help boost the economy.

The change would create more jobs,  please the tourists and make major cities in the state more competitive with cities like Las Vegas, New York and Miami, Leno said.

According to the Los Angeles Times:

"This legislation would allow destination cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego to start local conversations about the possibility of expanding night life and the benefits it could provide the community by boosting jobs, tourism and local tax revenue,'' Leno said.

In Los Angeles, it's ultimately the Los Angele City Council, through its issuance of conditional use permits, that has the final say on when a bar, restaurant or nightclub has to stop serving alcohol.