The city of Orlando is grappling with a surge in downtown violence, which is causing concern among business owners and city officials alike. As clashes over the role of nightlife and alcohol sales in the city's economy and safety continue, the conversation is becoming increasingly pressing. At a recent Orlando City Council workshop, nearly a hundred business owners expressed frustration over the financial drain and the toll that rising crime is taking on their establishments. Matty Bullitt, bar owner, encapsulated their sentiment, telling WFTV, "It’s not the business owner’s job to police the streets. We’re doing everything we can to make our venue safe as much as we can."
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith shared that the department is at the limits of its capacity without finding a long-term solution to the problem. "It's a lot for us to go through as a department," Smith said, reflecting on the 46 officers injured downtown since 2021, as reported by WFTV. The city officials also acknowledge the need to reevaluate their approach, with Mayor Buddy Dyer promising to develop a plan over the next two months.
Another matter is the downtown alcohol sales policy that allows venues to serve alcohol until 2 a.m., provided they pay for an after-midnight sales permit. This increasingly costly initiative has prompted some commissioners to propose an earlier last call to curb violence. However, Commissioner Bakari Burns expressed skepticism to WESH, "Right now, I am not in support of ending alcohol sales at 12 o'clock. I don't believe that this will solve the issue."
In response to suggestions to move the last call up to midnight, business owners pushed back, fearing the loss of revenue and suggesting that the city employ more advanced technology to prevent crime.
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