Alcohol bottles image by Jeff Tumale on unsplash.com

Editor’s note: An original version of this story said the 4 a.m. last call bill was approved on the Senate floor on May 9. The contents of the bill were changed entirely after that vote in a process commonly called “gut and amend.” 

Opposition is materializing against a state bill that would allow bars in Fresno and several other California cities to serve alcohol until 4 a.m.

SB 930 from Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) would move back to 4 a.m. last call for alcohol at bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Fresno is one of the pilot cities included in the bill, along with San Francisco, Oakland, West Hollywood, Palm Springs, Coachella and Cathedral City.

Fresno City Councilmember Garry Bredefeld signaled his opposition to SB 930 in a social media post Wednesday, calling the plan “reckless and dangerous.” He also said he intends — along with colleagues on the Council — to bring a resolution to the Council opposing the bill.

https://www.facebook.com/garry.bredefeld/posts/pfbid021P3iMXXGiWFU1GPibKkdBi47RNKsgrDh31Udf8U7MrXghbQbrGBekqWkvgG3DsEyl

 

In an interview Thursday morning, Bredefeld said moving last call would lead to more drunk driving incidents, creating a dangerous situation for all motorists and making the job of police more difficult.

“Nothing good could come from extending hours of bars further,” Bredefeld said. “It will be a burden for our great police officers.”

Bredefeld said Councilmember Miguel Arias and Council Vice President Tyler Maxwell are in support with him of a resolution opposing SB 930.

A message left with the Arias’ office was not returned Thursday morning.

Maxwell said Thursday he’s supporting the resolution because Fresno is not ready for this type of policy. The most recent City budget included additional money for police to combat crimes including drunk driving and street racing, he said. SB 930 would be a move in the wrong direction, he added.

“It’s ending people’s lives here in the City of Fresno,” Maxwell said about impact of alcohol use on public safety.

The bill is winding its way through the California State Capitol, with it scheduled to be heard by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Aug. 3.

The bill has seen some opposition from the local delegation in Sacramento.

The Assembly Governmental Organization Committee on June 22 approved SB 930 on a vote of 12-4, dividing the local Republican representatives of the group. Assemblymember Devon Mathis of Visalia voted in favor. Assemblymember Frank Bigelow of Madera County — the committee’s vice chair — voted no.

It passed the Senate floor on May 9 on a margin of 31-0 when it was a housing-related bill. But it underwent a “gut-and-amend” process after that vote — its contents changed entirely.

The idea to relax the times alcohol could be sold in the Golden State goes as far back as 2013. It was around that time when Fresno approved expanding operating hours for nightclubs in the Downtown Fresno entertainment district to allow dancing — but not alcohol sales — until 4 a.m.

Wiener has been pushing a similar version of this bill since 2018, when it made it all the way to then-Gov. Jerry Brown, who vetoed it saying it would lead to “mischief” and “mayhem.”

Wiener rejects that contention, saying in a recent tweet that it would “lead to better, more diverse & more interesting nightlife in cities that decide to participate.”

It would also help out a nightlife sector battered by the pandemic, Wiener said, adding that the pilot cities choose to participate and would have autonomy over how to roll out SB 930.

Fresno was included as part of the pilot project in a version of the bill circulated in 2019. Then-Chief of Police Jerry Dyer supported a version that would be limited to downtown.

“The hope in doing so is to create an entertainment district that is not disruptive to a particular neighborhood,” Dyer stated at the time.

Dyer also supports extending hours only on Friday and Saturday nights, he told “The Fresno Bee.”