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'Quiet Nights' Initiative Seeks To Close Bars In Hermosa Beach Before 2 A.M.

HERMOSA BEACH (CBSLA.com) — If some Hermosa Beach residents get their way, last call at local bars could be hours before the standard 2 a.m.

Jim Lissner, the man behind the "Quiet Nights" initiative, wants bars and restaurants to close by midnight Sunday through Wednesday and by 1 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

So far, the proposed measure, which will be on the Nov. 5 ballot, has received close to 2,000 signatures.

Lissner, who didn't want to appear on-camera, said bars in Hermosa are a real problem.

"The downtown bar area has been using up most of the city services, leaving very little for the rest of the town," he said.

Mary Casaburi, who has had a weekend home in Hermosa for 12 years, said it can get loud on the weekends.

"It would make it an earlier night for the people who are trying to sleep," she said.

However, Mikey Jerome, a bartender at Hennessey's Tavern, said the initiative will cut jobs, money and revenue for the city.

"It's a frustrating thing when a very small majority of people sit in front of Vons and little league games and get signatures to vote on things like this," he said.

Longtime resident Rick Porter understands both sides of the issue.

"They probably do take more resources, but they certainly provide more than their share of financing through all the taxes, permits," he said.

The City Council will meet again on the issue in two months.

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