Southeast Baltimore community groups are writing letters and gathering support to fight a bill that would allow some strip clubs in the city to stay open till 3 a.m.
House Bill 938 would allow strip clubs with a full kitchen to stay open till 3 a.m. The first reader of the bill states that customers would be allowed to drink alcohol till 3 a.m., as long as it was ordered before 2 a.m. There is an identical companion bill in the State Senate, SB 543.
The strip bars that would be affected are Scores Baltimore, near the Maryland State Penitentiary; Gentlemen’s Gold Club, on Pulaski Highway; Fantasies, in Curtis Bay; and Night Shift on Broening Highway.
Three of the bars are in the 46th District. None of the district’s representatives has signed on to the bill, and none of them supports it.
Update: Thanks to Highlandtown Community Association president Kevin Bernhard, who informed us that the city zoning board has approved building of a kitchen at Club El Dorado at Lombard and Haven streets. If the kitchen is built the bill would also apply to Club El Dorado.
Lobbyist Bruce Bereano, who is steering the bill through the legislature, says that provision is already amended out of the bill and that the tables would be swept clean of alcohol at 2 a.m. The strip clubs would operate like restaurants with liquor licenses that stay open late—servers would remove alcohol from the tables at 2.
“Three a.m. drinking is G-O-N-E,” Bereano said. “It is back to present law.”
But the bill as posted on the Maryland Legislature website states that customers can drink till 3 a.m., and community leaders are skeptical about the existence of an amendment. There is some confusion among the sponsors as well.
Del. Melvin Stukes (D-44) said he believes that customers will be able to drink till 3 a.m. as long as they are eating food. Senator Lisa Gladden (D-41) says she will never vote for a bill with a 3 a.m. drinking time. Del. Talmadge Branch (D-45) says that a 3 a.m. drinking time will never pass the Baltimore City Delegation: “I guarantee you that.”
Victor Corbin, president of the Fells Prospect Community Association, says it doesn’t matter if the drinking time is 2 a.m. As long as the doors are open till 3, customers will keep drinking.
“I think it is naive for any representative to think the [liquor] inspectors would be able to enforce the rule…how does one know if they are drinking a Coke or a Coke with rum in it?”
Joanne Masopust, president of the Fells Point Community Organization, says the bill places the city at the edge of a very slippery slope. “We are creating a situation where the rest of the bars can say, ‘Why not us?’” she said. “We would end up with 3 a.m. closing across the city.”
Both presidents find little comfort in the fact that their area’s two despised strip bars are not included in the bill. “I would encourage the delegation to think in terms of the big picture,” said Masopust. “Move all bars with adult entertainment licenses to the Block, and then you have a different picture. Let them stay open all night if they please. But as long as you have strip bars in the neighborhoods, leave the closing time at a reasonable hour.”
Supporters of the bill say that leaving the establishment open but closing down bar service could be helpful. “I don’t mind keeping restaurants open but no alcohol,” said Branch. “Staying in the restaurant for an hour could sober them up some.”
Del. Shawn Z. Tarrant (D-40), the lead sponsor of the bill, said it was requested by Brian Shulman, owner of Scores Baltimore. “The main reason I introduced the bill is the club is under a bridge on I-83,” said Tarrant. “The most important thing to me is it’s not in a neighborhood.”
All well and good, say the community leaders, but approving a later closing time at strip clubs is certain to bring a later closing time to a community near you.
“[The bill] puts us on a pathway to allow all bars to stay open till 3 a.m. with consumption of alcohol,” said Corbin. “That would be extremely detrimental to our communities.”
“I would be thrilled to see this bill killed in committee,” said Masopust.
HB 938 will have its hearing before the Economic Matters committee at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27. The companion bill, SB543, is not yet scheduled for action.
The following is a list of sponsors of the strip bar bills:
House bill 938 Lead sponsor: Shawn Z. Tarrant (District 40) shawn.tarrant@house.state.md.us 410-841-3545 Talmadge Branch (District 45) talmadge.branch@house.state.md.us 410-841-3398 Cheryl Glenn (District 45) cheryl.glenn@house.state.md.us 410-841-3257 Hattie Harrison (District 45) hattie.harrison@house.state.md.us 410-841-3486 Keiffer Mitchell (District 44) keiffer.mitchell@house.state.md.us 410-841-3802 Melvin Stukes (District 44) melvin.stukes@house.state.md.us 410-841-3544 Nathaniel Oaks nathaniel.oaks@house.state.md.us 410-841-3283 Senate Bill 543 Lead sponsor: Verna Jones-Rodwell (District 44) verna.jones@senate.state.md.us 410-841-3612 Joan Carter Conway (District 43) joan.carter.conway@senate.state.md.us 410-841-3145 Lisa Gladden (District 41) lisa.gladden@senate.state.md.us 410-841-3697 Nathaniel McFadden (District 45) nathaniel.mcfadden@senate.state.md.us Catherine Pugh (District 40) catherine.pugh@senate.state.md.us 410-841-3656
District Night
The 46th District delegation will host District Night in Annapolis on Monday, Feb. 27. The reception will be held in the West Conference Center of the Miller Senate Office Building, 11 Bladen Street, Annapolis.The reception is hosted by State Senator Bill Ferguson. Delegates Luke Clippinger, Pete Hammen and Brian McHale will be there to talk to constituents about a variety of subjects including legislation and community concerns. All are welcome to attend.
Bills of interest
Elections schedule: HB250, a bill to switch Baltimore City elections to Presidential election years, has been heard by the House Ways and Means committee and received a favorable report. The bill is intended to save money while increasing voter turnout for municipal elections.Marijuana penalty: HB350, a bill to reduce the penalty for possession of less than 14 grams (half an ounce) of marijuana was heard in the Judiciary Committee Tuesday. The bill is intended to move petty marijuana cases to the District Court level and ease the caseload in Circuit Court.
by Jacqueline Watts
editor@baltimoreguide.com
One Comment on "Bill would extend closing time at some strip bars"
Great Article ! Thanks for covering the story !