4 Ybor City bars may lose liquor license for allowing patrons to ignore mask mandate
Elizabeth Fry reports
YBOR CITY, Fla. - The city of Tampa has made it clear: Inside a business, you must wear a mask, except if you re actively eating or drinking. However, in Ybor City, they say not everyone is following the rules. We found that there are approximately 10 establishments that have ignored the warnings and ignored the first citation and ignored the second citation, said Gina Grimes, an attorney for the city of Tampa.
Monday morning, Purple Heart Bar Lounge and Grill, Seventh & Grove, The Ritz Ybor and Club Prana will all make their case as Tampa City Council decides their fate. The four bars are in jeopardy of having their liquor license suspended or even revoked, as the city said they have failed to enforce the mask ordinance among their patrons despite several warnings.
By Mitch Perry Hillsborough County PUBLISHED 4:52 PM ET Feb. 19, 2021 PUBLISHED 4:52 PM EST Feb. 19, 2021
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. While there was a lot of rhetorical harmony between Republican and Democratic members of the Hillsborough County legislative delegation at a pre-session discussion on Friday, that bonhomie shattered when discussing a bill pushed by Governor Ron DeSantis that has been depicted as cracking down on violent protests.
“So House Bill 1 is one that I am very, very concerned about, because it does not protect our First Amendment right to peaceful protest. It attacks it,” said Hillsborough County Democratic state Rep. Fentrice Driskell at a Tampa Tiger Bay virtual forum on Friday.
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Patrons are seen outside Tangra Nightclub in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 14 in the Ybor City area of Tampa. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]
This article represents the opinion of the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board.
Published Feb. 20
We couldnât let this week pass without applauding and jeering at several items in the news that otherwise would have gone under the editorial radar. We look forward to revisiting some of them in coming weeks.
The city requires all customers to wear a face-covering while not actively eating or drinking. Two businesses have had their liquor license suspended for three days for not enforcing the order.
Tampa City Council suspends alcohol licenses at two local bars for COVID-19 code violations abcactionnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from abcactionnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.