The complaints in San Pedro have mostly been about terrible conditions of streets, and dust and poor beaches and dirty areas, but lately they have been about bars. The complaints are about noise pollution in some bars that are not sound proof, late opening hours and lately also the fact that prostitution is rampant and blatant in many bars on the island.
One caller to the radio morning show lamented: "I am disgusted that I am taking my children to school in the morning and we bump into these three prostitutes, half naked and drunk making a dirty scene right in front of their bar. My children have to put up with this and I must give explanations to them."
"But this and many other irregularities are going to stop," said Jennie Staines, Chairperson of the San Pedro Liquor Licensing Board. She explained that the committee, which includes the Mayor, is going to make some dramatic changes to solve these problems that have been plaguing San Pedro for ages.
"People will get mad at me, but I will do what the law and the act stipulate," she added. According to Jennie, the Liquor Licensing Board will demand that all bars with loud music systems be sound proof or they will be shut down if they do not comply. They will also see to it that not all bars repeatedly get extensions to open to very late hours. All bars must close down at midnight as is the law. Extension permits are a privilege and will be issued on special occasions, but not an automatic and constant procedure.
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