JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With Jacksonville one step away from extending alcohol sales to 3 a.m. in the Downtown Entertainment District, some people are expressing safety concerns.
The measure, which passed the City Council with a 17–1 vote on Tuesday, is now on Mayor Donna Deegan’s desk awaiting her signature.
Many of the concerns the community shared with News4JAX focused on whether the extra hour could lead to more late-night issues, including crowd control, fights or impaired driving.
JSO declines to comment
News4JAX reporter Briana Brownlee and photojournalist Jesse Hanson took those viewer questions directly to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
In a statement, JSO said it would not comment yet:
“At this time, we are going to refrain from speaking about this ordinance, as it continues through the process of approval or veto by Mayor Donna Deegan.”
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
With JSO declining to speak, News4JAX asked Councilmember Raul Arias, who drafted the ordinance, whether safety was taken into account.
Arias said the legislation includes required safety reviews.
“The safety component is really the biggest part for me,” he said. “Within the first six months and again at the end of the first year, we’re going to review it. I’m going to get with JSO to confirm that there haven’t been any incidents between the hours of 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.”
Where the later hours apply
The extended last call would apply only to businesses inside the Downtown Entertainment District, which includes:
- The Central Core
- The North Core
- The Sports and Entertainment District
If Deegan signs it, 63 businesses inside those zones would be allowed to serve alcohol until 3 a.m.
Everywhere else — including the city’s neighborhoods — would remain at a 2 a.m. cutoff.
Arias said some businesses outside downtown, including in areas like the Southside and Mandarin, have asked to be included.
But he says the focus is on strengthening a walkable, concentrated nightlife area downtown.
Brooklyn not included
Although business owners in Brooklyn told council members this week that their neighborhood has grown into an extension of downtown’s entertainment scene, the district’s boundaries do not include Brooklyn.
Arias confirmed that Brooklyn is not part of the ordinance.
Could later hours ease congestion?
During public comment, several business owners and residents said extending service by an hour could actually make the area safer by reducing the mass exodus that happens at 2 a.m.
“Currently, at 2 a.m., we turn the lights on and push thousands of people out,” business owner Evan Rider said. “At 3 a.m., closing staggers and exits reduce congestion and actually make things safer.”
Another speaker told council members, “We’ve invested millions downtown. A later hour makes sense there — but not in residential districts where people are trying to sleep.”