In March, happy hours at Iguana Rana at the Tourism Village were abruptly halted when the Port Authority closed down the Friday night hotspot. The reason from the Authority was that there was a security concern because it was an international port. Four months later, those security concerns have been addressed and this week the port authority gave the bar the green light to re-open on Friday nights for local crowd.
But when the Port said go, the City Council said no or at least at first. In a letter yesterday, City Council advisor Dale Trujeque reportedly told owner Roque Escalante that Iguana Rana cannot be reopened because the bar wasn't soundproofed. Today that order was countermanded by the councilor in charge of enforcement Mark King. King told us there is no proof, and no complaint about noise pollution. King says the liquor licensing board, which City Hall controls, would have to prove that the bar isn't soundproofed. With that, he says that in line with the permit from the Port Authority the bar can open up to midnight today.
Today City Council advisor Dale Trujeque declined comment and told us to check with councilor King.
