SANTA ANA : City Bans Wee-Hour Nightclub Dancing

The City Council on Tuesday adopted an ordinance that bans dancing and live music in nightclubs and public dance halls from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.

The ordinance, passed 7 to 0, is designed to prevent any new establishments in the city from operating after 2 a.m.

Police Chief Paul Walters said such dance clubs attract large crowds as well as create trash and parking problems in surrounding neighborhoods.

The only Santa Ana nightclub that operates after 2 a.m. is Mr. J’s, at 2101 E. Edinger Ave.

That business will not be affected by the new law due to a grandfather clause in the ordinance.

Police Lt. Ken Hall urged the council to include Mr. J’s in the ordinance. The business was granted a late-night permit by the council last year.

“We’re concerned that the there will be a major incident at that location in the near future,” Hall said.

Mayor Daniel H. Young, who called Mr. J’s “a pain in the neck forever,” made a motion to include the late-night dance spot in the ordinance. But his motion was defeated, 4 to 3.