With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive.
You Might Be Able To Drink In LA's Streets This Summer
A parklet on Spring Street in downtown L.A. (LADOT/Flickr Creative Commons)
()
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
Angelenos will almost certainly be able to eat in the streets later this summer. Will we also be able to drink in them? Probably, but in a limited capacity.
Several cities -- including Long Beach, Pasadena and Sierra Madre -- are working to transform streets, sidewalks and parking lots into outdoor dining and recreation areas. These "open streets" proposals, which are temporary, would go into effect when L.A. County officials lift the ban on dine-in eating at restaurants.
Whenever that happens, officials will likely impose limits on how many patrons can be inside a restaurant and how far apart tables must be placed. Adding tables outdoors should help restaurants make up some of that lost revenue.
Support for LAist comes from
But what if a customer wants a beer with their al fresco burger? Or a mimosa with that Sunday morning waffle? It gets trickier.
Fortunately, California's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which regulates the production, sale and distribution of booze in the state, has offered a bit of regulatory relief.
DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Get our daily newsletters for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines.
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Earlier this week, the agency issued a notice that allows dining establishments already licensed to sell alcohol to do it in areas adjacent to their business -- in the parklets, sidewalks and parking spots envisioned by "open streets" proponents.
Support for LAist comes from
The loosened restrictions, which would also be temporary, could require businesses to jump through several hoops.
They'll need to file an application, which costs $100. They'll need to submit a diagram of the area where they plan to serve booze. They'll need to explain what kind of barriers they'll use to demarcate this area. And they'll need to forward their application to local law enforcement.
Most crucially, these loosened restrictions only apply in counties where stay-at-home orders have been lifted. In Los Angeles County, we're a ways off from that.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Kevin Lacy has an obsession with documenting California’s forgotten and decaying places. -
Restaurants share resources in the food hall in West Adams as Los Angeles reckons with increasing restaurant closures. -
It will be the second national day of protest against President Donald Trump. -
The university says the compact, as the Trump administration called it, could undermine free inquiry and academic excellence. -
This is the one time you can do this legally! -
Metro officials said it will be able to announce an opening date “soon.”
Best of LAist