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The City that Always Sleeps: Ed Flynn would rather you be snug in bed at 2:30 a.m. than chowing down on a lamb kabob
By adamg on Wed, 05/24/2023 - 11:42am
The Boston Licensing Board decides tomorrow whether to let Black Seed extend its closing time from 2:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. at its location on Tremont Street downtown.
The halal restaurant is moving from its current location into the space vacated by Mooyah, which had an 11 p.m. closing time.
Owner Youssef Ibrahim asked for the later time because Black Seed, open for 27 years, does a lot of late night business.
Through an aide, City Councilor Ed Flynn, whose district includes the downtown part of New England's largest city, told the board today that 3 a.m. is just too late a closing time for any Boston restaurant and so opposes the later closing time.
Nobody else opposed the proposal to stay open later.
Last September, Flynn did back a bid by El Jefe Taqueria, just down the street, to extend its closing time from midnight to 2 a.m.
New York Pizza, a bit down the street from El Jefe, is open until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
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Comments
it really makes no sense
As someone who works second shift now. I'm tired of eating sandwiches when I get home at 1am because there's nothing open.
People do live and work hours that aren't your standard 9-5.
Magoo sez
Early to bed, early to rise makes Magoo Happy, wealthy, and first one in the bathroom to get a super warm shower after Magoo hits the weights in Magoo’s home gym so Magoo becomes Magoo McShwartzamagooger. Magoo.
I sympathize with the restaurant workers ..
.. who would be obliged to work even later hours and find transportation home, if the place stays open till 2am. I’ve been in that situation in the past and their welfare is what comes to my mind first.
Flynn is right about this.
except the welfare of the workers ...
is not the good councilor's main objection to it. Presumably the employer would provide arrangements or a stipend for early morning transportation home especially if it was requested by the city councilor. Point of fact many restaurants already do that especially in the suburbs where public transit is sparse. This is a downtown location and I am confounded that in a large city that claims sophistication, this is objectionable.
Sophistication?
This is Boston not Paris.
But even in Paris, especially since Les Halles was moved to Rungis, sophisticated people pretty much eat at regular hours. Or they make themselves a late night omelette.
paris still hopping at 2am
Obviously, you are correct that Boston is not Paris.
I was intrigued about your second contention though - and it turns out that yelp, parisbymouth.com, and thefork.fr all list dozens of parisian eateries that are open at 2am or later on a weeknight, including some with fairly significant price points and culinary reputation.
Let's take this further
I sympathize not just with late-shift workers but with all workers. Who among us wants to toil for meager wages? It's time to ban all employment for the good of the workers!
Then we can live modestly, but comfortably off of our trust funds.
Anyone who lives near this is a student
either at Suffolk or at Emerson. (Up on Beacon Hill behind the State House doesn't count as nearby.)
Or Tufts Dental.
But residents of elderly housing on Essex St and on Mason St would argue they are nearby, are not students and have enough problems getting a good night’s sleep already.
Seniors tend to vote more regularly than juniors.
why no opposition from them then?
Adam states that no one but councilor Flynn’s rep spoke in opposition. Elderly neighbors are not typically shy about attending mtgs like this and making their feelings clear.
(I have to admit I’m curious about whose interests and opinions the councilor is supporting foremost, if not his constituents in that neighborhood.)
Thanks for the well-reasoned argument, Ed
Love all the evidence you put forth here to support your point!
Fine with me as long as
Fine with me as long as closing time is the only rule that the city would enforce.
Empty palms?
Was Ed's campaign fund not sufficiently satisfied? Where retail is concerned Boston's politicians often look with favor upon those who donate to either their campaign funds or favorite charities.
Boston's functioning on the basis of legal bribes and graft (aka, details) is a fantastic example to other cities of how to turn what in an ethical world would be criminal.
One important difference
But there's an important difference. This is a halal restaurant. Alcohol isn't served. If Flynn says "too late" because he's worried about rowdy patrons, shouldn't this be a factor?
Even if not halal, no alcohol is served after 2 am anywhere
by state law