Revere board votes to reverse liquor rollback

REVERE – Revere License Commissioners voted 2-0 to reverse a rollback of hours that could result in liquor license holders staying open until 2 a.m.”It is basically at a business owner’s request ? they have to apply,” said Chairman Joseph Quarantello.A number of local business owners attended the public hearing to speak in favor of the hours change, which Quarantello supported.Quarantello has lived in Revere all his life and he remembers the days when the city had a reputation as a tough town, he said.”I just don’t think it’s the same city by any stretch,” he said.Quarantello said he believes that business owners who were in line with the city’s liquor license rules and regulations were in effect punished when the rollback went into effect. Malden and Boston both have 2 a.m. closing times and Quarantello said he feels that puts Revere at an economical disadvantage.”I want to see the city thrive,” he said. “If the casinos come in ? it will have an effect and I want to give businesses the advantage.”Revere CARES Director Kitty Bowman and Assistant Director Katie Sugarman also attended the hearing. Bowman said they understand the economic arguments made by the business owners but her concerns were the same as they were five years ago when she testified for the rollback.”Public safety in particular,” Bowman said.Police were responding to calls, having to call other communities for back up and some officers were hurt all during closing time incidents, “and that cost money, too,” Bowman noted.Revere CARES officials suggested that if the reversal is approved the city should adopt a “best practices in bar closings” to better insure safety, she said. The proposal included considering staggered closing times for license holders and establishing a group to monitor incidents that do take place at closing.”We would like to see a balance between public safety and the economic issues,” Bowman said.Quarantello did not disagree and called the best practices plan a good idea. He said he is excited in the direction in which the city is headed.”I’m seeing a lot of positive things,” he said. “Two or three years ago the number of restaurants was dwindling down to nothing and now we see a surge again. I want to give those people a fair shot.”Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].