Frustration grows among business owners over All-Star Weekend in Cleveland

Despite criticism from restaurant owners as well as from city leaders over his denying of waivers for bars to stay open to serve alcohol late during the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb is standing behind his decision. 87 Cleveland establishments applied for a special extended hours waiver to cash in on next weekend's festivities and stay open serving alcohol until 4 a.m. Of the 87, 80 were denied by the city of Cleveland. Just seven hotels were given approval. In a statement released on Wednesday, Bibb says protecting residents and visitors of Cleveland in the time of COVID-19 is his 'number one priority.' "The pandemic has had a significant impact on the City and its public safety forces. While we want people to enjoy themselves, we must lead by example and put safety first," he wrote. READ MORE: https://www.wkyc.com/article/sports/n...