Games Not Over for Arcade's Late Nights

By Teresa Rochester

For some civic leaders keeping the Playland Arcade open until 2 a.m. every day was a matter of social justice. For some neighbors it was an invitation to late-night crime. And for actor Donald Sutherland it was a matter of not getting a full night sleep.

After hearing from more than three dozen speakers -- including a security specialist and a behavioral psychologist -- the City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to keep a late-night tradition alive.

In the end the council sided with supporters who viewed the arcade as one of the city's few inexpensive venues and did not find a direct link between the arcade's hours and vandalism, break-ins and noise that residents blame on arcade patrons. The council did, however, direct staff to study the problem and come up with solutions.

"I do think there is a problem in the neighborhood," said the city's new Mayor, Ken Genser. "But I think there is little link between the operation of the arcade and the problems that occur."

The arcade has been a staple on the pier for 50 years but a recently discovered 10-year-old city ordinance, which limits arcade hours to 10 p.m., threatened to cripple the family business which generates approximately 14 percent of its revenues during late night hours, according to the owner's accountant.

Supporters noted that unlike neighboring bars on the Pier, which also stay open until 2 a.m., the arcade does not serve alcohol.

"If the arcade's hours are shortened it will not help to alleviate the problem," said Playland Arcade co-owner Joanie Gordon. "It's ironic now that crime has decreased we are being singled out."

Board of Education member and former board President, Margaret Quinones recalled that when she was a little girl she would board the 1 bus at Sawtelle, when it was still known as Tobacco Road, with her parents to go to the arcade.

"It's about social justice. It's about economics," Quinones said. "At the arcade there were poor families. They are Latinos. There were families from South Central. It's about social justice and access. Those families cannot afford to go to Disneyland. They can afford to go to the arcade and we welcome them and celebrate them."

"The arcade gives kids something to do," Playland employee Tito Cortez said. "If I felt there was a chance of violence where I work, I would not let my kids come visit me."

But neighbors insist the arcade is a magnet for crime.

"When these incidents happen, we in the neighborhood pay the price in dollars and lost sense of security," said Ellen Brennan, chair of South Beach Neighbors. "We believe the city made a mistake in allowing it to stay open."

John Krause described nights when he was awakened by cars with radios blaring and by the sound of glass bottles dropped on asphalt.

"We're not asking to close down Playland, just for reasonable hours," he said.

But Councilman Kevin McKeown, who took a late night trip to the arcade with Quinones, said he saw no problems.

"The most violent thing that happened was that she beat my butt at skeeball. I believe the problems of the homeowners but I can't in good conscience link it to Playland Arcade."

McKeown made a motion to review residents problems' with graffiti, noise and break-ins early next year.

Apologizing for the 1989 ordinance passed while he was on the council, former Mayor Dennis Zane said the performance standard measure was not meant to apply to Playland Arcade, (The ordinance, however,will apply to any new arcade in the city.)

"If we had done a more thorough job, you would have been home by nine o'clock," said Zane, who also apologized for the sign and auto repair ordinances that will kick-in next year.

Actor Donald Sutherland, who lives near the pier asked that the hours not be extended.

"It's a joyous wonderful sound during the day," he said of the sound coming from the Pier. "It is downright disturbing at night."

When asked by Councilman Richard Bloom if he had was concerned about the arcade keeping its current hours, Sutherland simply replied, "My concern is the noise that wakes me up."