Employees of bars along via dei Benci have lost their jobs in wake of the curfew imposed on the establishments before the holiday season.
On December 18, a 10pm-to-7am curfew was imposed on seven bars in the Santa Croce neighbourhood: Moyo, Kikuya, Mirò, Gallery, Oibò, Soul Kitchen and Lochness Lounge. The early closure ban was ordered by Florence’s police force in response to excessive noise levels in the area.
To date, because of lost business, 20 employees of the bars have been laid off, a number that is expected to rise to as many as 60 if a solution is not found in the near future. Proprietor of Lochness Lounge Trine West commented, ‘We’re desperate…We’re starting to lay off people. We’re open for three hours; it’s not even worth it.’
At a meeting that included Florence councillor for economic development Sara Biagiotti, president of Quartiere 1 Nicola Benvenuti, city police chief Antonella Manzione, several owners of the bars along via dei Benci and representatives from Confesercenti Firenze and Confcommercio Firenze, Benvenuti presented proposals that had emerged from a meeting with local residents the day before.
The bar owners have offered to do what they can to keep the noise levels down and to close an hour earlier, at 2am instead of 3am. But, they claim, the problem is also a matter for the authorities. West said, ‘Obviously what happens inside my bar I’m responsible for … But the problem seems to be the noise on the street, and I think the only solution is we need police on the street, police in uniform.’
Florence councillor for economic development Sara Biagiotti said, ‘The problem in via dei Benci is a matter of public order. We are calling for a meeting between trade unions and the police prefect as we have a social emergency on our hands.’
In the Oltrarno, a 10pm-to 7am curfew has also been enforced on pub One Eyed Jack in piazza Nazario Sauro due to high noise levels and public order.
